I run into a lot of interesting domain data and I think I will start sharing some of the stuff I run into, so today I will start off with a pretty interesting one. Invalid Whois Data.
There are pretty substantial risks involved with having invalid whois data for your domain name, so much so that your domain can be deleted (released from the registry). Often times, domain names with invalid whois data can lead to a domain being put in Registrar Hold status for an example to get your attention, which takes down any associated website with it. Not getting domain renewal emails is another potential, the risks are real.
Anybody can file a Whois Inaccuracy Complaint with ICANN for many reasons, like an invalid email address, “fake” names, invalid phone number etc. associated with any domain name registered. To stay compliant, in general domain registrars are required to have customers keep valid whois data on domains registered with them.
In general, there is no way for me to come up with what is valid and what is not on “all” domain names. Even a computer program would struggle trying to figure out if a mailing address is correct or the “registrant name” provided is real or even if an email address is valid (working). One thing that I can do, is search for “known” email addresses that registrars use for invalid email address for the registrant.
Well, I did a search this morning using only two email addresses via two popular domain name registrars and the numbers are pretty staggering all considering. Two registrars, two emails only and the numbers total up quickly!
1,305,204
The two email addresses are:
[email protected] (GoDaddy) (821,591)
[email protected] (Network Solutions) (483,613)
When you start considering domain names under privacy protection and have invalid email addresses which would not match the above and those numbers I’m sure would rapidly grow. Start adding in invalid “names”, “phone numbers” and again, the number grows!
A couple examples of these domain names and we find many valuable assets with invalid whois data!
AAA.com owned by The American Automobile Association, Inc. and a domain name that has been registered since 1990! Technically speaking, the whois is invalid due to [email protected] listed as the registrant email address.
CreditCards.com, Restaurant.com, Savings.com, Credit.com, Makita.com, Data.com, Dog.com, Fish.com, Bahamas.com, Horse.com, Arizona.com, Broadway.com, GNC.com, Subaru.com, Polaris.com, Kubota.com, Buttons.com
I could keep going and going with very valuable domain names that are currently at some risk, simply due to an invalid whois record, displaying an invalid registrant email address. A complaint can be filed against any one of these domain names and if not corrected by the registrant, there is potential that something could be done with the domain name. Registrar Hold and even deletion is a potential.
There are many reasons behind invalid whois, often times problems can occur during a transfer in from a registrar. The registrant may input the data, technical error, registrar games etc.
In General
All of the domain names I checked, have proper admin or technical contact information, but for whatever reason the “most important” registrant email address is invalid. Technically, the domains are not in compliance and sustain invalid whois data.
Be sure to check YOUR contact information within your domain registrar accounts. Often times it is not the easiest to do this and will take some work on your behalf depending upon the registrar you use, but it is up to you to provide valid contact information.
The problem here are 2 of the worst registrars in the world: Network Solutions and what has become the “new Network Solutions” of today GoDaddy.
Stay away.
Agree with the above, godaddy ….. you are now officially a shocker when it comes to dodgy customer support
About a year ago, I bought a Go Daddy auction name and set up a redirect email for it.
I started getting renewal, email confirmation, and update emails for domains that I don’t own.
Evidently, when my domain name went to auction and I bought it, the former owner never changed his registrant email for his other domains.
Sigh… Go Daddy won’t do anything about it, said I needed to deal with it. Unfortunately, the guy lives in Japan, and I’m not about to call him.
So I continue to receive his mail.
Life goes on…
🙂
Do godaddy still delete domains for this? Forums tend to suggest this practice stopped a while ago after high profile cases… anyone have first hand experience?