From: Mike N. 

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 07:34:41 -0400, Mike N.  wrote:

>  It isn't.  The next day you go to your Domain
>>Registrar of choice but find out that your domain now is registered

  Here's some more information about how it's done and why -

"35 million names registered in May. Only 8% of registrations were
paid. 32 million were part of a scam. It's called "domain
kiting." http://www.bobparsons.com/MayKiting.html

   No wonder the spammers have an unlimited supply of domains.  No need for
them to pay with stolen credit cards any more.  Why should they, when ICANN
will give them the domains for free - just a refundable deposit.

   Registrars seldom, if ever cancel the domain and refund it to the buyer.
If the end domain buyers can live with this policy, why can't the domain
registrars be forced to live with it?

   If ICANN isn't doing anything, they are probably pocketing the money
made off the interest of all those domains coming and going.


   Here's another interesting domain squatting case involving Sigmund
Solares -

http://www.rootfest.net/squatters.html

 Interestingly, this writeup takes place about a month before Hurricane
Katrina hit.    Sigmund is one of the more famous internet bloggers from
ground Zero.

http://sigmund.biz/kat20050901%20part%202/

   It's not clear how involved he is, but it's certain that he has
knowledge of the domain squatting operation.

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