I have a query,

Has anyone heard of any instances where a person has searched the availability of a domain name somewhere, only to find that the website they used to search it, then registers the domain name on them?

I was looking up a domain name I was thinking of using for a business, a sort of word that isnt common even with a google search, and I found that the .net, .org and .info version of the domain name were all registered through godaddy by "rook takes pawn" on 31 December 2011.

Now this would have been after I was searching it.

The .com was already owned since 2004 so thats not an issue.

I have heard stories about people that search for a domain name and then the site they searched on registers it on them but didnt believe it. Is this common?

I have also heard of domains being registered by companies providing search/suggestion tools, but couldn't give you a list of those to be cautious of.

Generally the reason I do searches on unregistered domains manually against the root level servers.

I've had 2 customers previously do searches via a large company, and have them snap it up the moment the search wasn't followed through, and offer it at a higher price.

Now this would be handy information

This happened to me once.
I heard somewhere that big registrars can register a domain for short period of time and then drop it without paying for the domain. Maybe 10 - 15 days.
They actually contacted me afterwards and see if I was interested in the domain. (I have other domains with them)

Its called the "grace period" and I believe its 5 days for .coms. There was a US registrar a few years back (I cant remember which one) that registered every domain that users looked up through them and then released them before the grace period ended. Thus preventing users from registering them through any other registrar during the grace period.

That would be NetSol [Network Solutions]. ICANN were not very happy.

I have searched millions of domains on checkdomain.com and they have never registered any of my ideas. It should be safe to search on sites that do not offer registration services.

I have never had this issue, but try find a good registrar with GOOD feedback (its not that easy)
some are fail in areas that others do very well.
just because its cheap, doesnt mean that your getting a good deal

its taken register[dot]com 3+ months to generate my transfer code.
some take a week to reg your domains like 'crazydomains' and even then they will take your money even if the domain has already been registered (less than 48hrs ago)

people and companies are just weird, some good, some bad
but hey? what can you do.

Thats why it is advised that register the domain name as soon as possible when you are searching for availability.

The thing is when you search the domain name there is some softwares which automatically forward the search queries and there are lots of domain name marketers who are using this tool.

heres a laugh

a direct response of a crappy registrar = crazydomains

keep in mind that i paid on the 12th as they stated it was available

/*--------------------

Thank you for your email.

Unfortuantely you were beaten to that domain by another client who applied on the 9th September and you applied on the 12th of September

-------------------*/

they even offered me domains that got reg'd in march 2012 (in sept 2012)

interesting that they can reg a domain instantly but not tell you a domain is already reg'd as below....nice date range


the images below are of the billing on the
i paid
30th sep 12

current owner
domain renewed on
14th sep 12

http://s15.postimage.org/44kg6sb2j/dumb1.jpg

http://s18.postimage.org/rbkgkd7a1/dumb2.jpg


see idiots are everywhere my friend and these guys think its not illegal to sell you domains that are already registered
in the 46th universe maybe but not in our reality

Yes it is common