Web Designer Lows

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Yesterday REQUIRED a glass of wine. Today may have wine in celebration.

I very rarely self-medicate with alcohol or anything, but yesterday put me through the ringer.

Remember the midwife that I’m helping get started online? I think I wrote about her before. Well her so-called former web designer is a complete scam artist. I used to just think he was a moron - but after needing to file a BBB report on him yesterday - we now know he’s a duplicitous control freak.

Ok, kids - pay attention - this is very similar to other scams that security pros warn about.

*names are changed, but if you contact me and ask if “so-and-so” is who is mentioned here, I’ll be honest. I don’t know how many internet newbies got scammed by this disgrace to the Geeks.

Scammer says, “Hey, you need a website! I’ll help you. You need a printer, I’ll help you.”
You say, “Ok, that sounds great, thanks for your help.”
Scammer says, “I registered 6 domains for you. And here is a list of reviews for a printer. That’ll be $300.”
After you notice that the scammer hasn’t done anything but put up your contact information on a white background and that he registered the domains in HIS name not YOURS - you get wise.
You ask for them back.
He plays dumb.
You ask to have them transfered over to you.
He ignores you and lets two expire.
You say, after six months of waiting, you’ve found another web host / designer and you need to get ownership of your domains before you proceed.
He sends authorization codes. That transfers the registrar and allows the domain to be hosted somewhere else, but does not replace his ownership for your own.
You say, “That’s not what I asked for.”
He plays on your naiveté and says you’re wrong, that’s not how it’s done.
You have him call your new web designer.
She walks him through it, step by step.
He realizes she knows what she’s talking about and gets cranky.
She guides him to the place to put in your information as the “new” owner.
He yells, “WHY DOES SHE NEED HER NAME ON THEM ANYWAY?” and when reminded that she paid for them and would like them under her own account, with her listed as the registrant - he yells more.
When he’s invited to play nice or face the BBB, he yells “Let’s be civil! Y’know what? GOODBYE!” and hangs up.

What’s the scam? You might think, “Buyer Beware.” Yes, you’d be right. But variations of this scam are all over.

1. Charging double for domains.
2. Charging low only to have a rate hike that’s quintuple what you thought you’d pay.
3. Charging ridiculous fees to transfer your domain name to another host.
4. Waiting for you to build up your domain, visitor count, Page Rank & then selling your domain out from under you. (Hey, your name isn’t on it - THEY own it.)

So, let this be a warning to you. Register your domain only through accredited ICANN, or receive a guarantee IN WRITING that your domain will list YOU or your company name as the “Registrant.”

Sigh.

Mean people suck.

And drive me to drink.

Be nice. Make money.

These guys wouldn’t do that to you. They’re a little light in the loafers for this deal, but they’re good people. Seriously, click through & talk to someone live about it.