FUD based marketing - don't fall for it!

Fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) have been powerful marketing tools for centuries. After all, the whole insurance industry is based upon it However, in the last few years FUD marketing has expanded to numeorus other categories. Want to buy an extended warranty on that $15 remote, anyone?

In my opinion, the worst form is when companies create official looking documents that try to give the impression of having some governmental or legal backing. This is dishonest and all such perpertrators should rot in hell! Why such anger? Well I'm reacting to the latest in a string of emails I have received recently. Look below for the full text - I have highlighted the sneakiest parts! This shameless excuse for a company is seeking to convince me to buy a domain name that is similar to that of my company www.sonaxgroup.com. The whole substance of the pitch is to imply that someone may register the domain name www.sonaxgroup.us and thereby detract from the value of my own domain. Fair point but why couch it in these terms? I am sure the slick CEO will prattle on about "providing a service" and 'no obligation" sounding very much like a subprime mortgage broker circa-October 2006 - it stinks. Now ask me what I really think!

Here is the offending drivel with my commentary...

Domain Solutions Central
130 Church Street Suite 280
New York, NY 10007 - a NY address so must be serious
Web: www.domainsolutionscentral.com
Email: support@domainsolutionscentral.com
Toll Free: 1-800-270-5944
Phone: 1-212-671-1191
FINAL NOTICE - scare me why not
ATT: Sonax Group

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT

daxson@sonaxgroup.com
Address: Willow House
Akron 443331464 Willow Lane
Phone: 330 665 9532
www.SONAXGROUP.us Notice Tracking Number: 1653812 - very official

Please be advised that the above noted domain name has now become available for registration.
Consequently the possibility of a conflicting domain registration may occur.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES LEGAL CODE - lawyers, money, fear...

What follows is a whole set of legal sounding BS - if you want to scare people - quote legal statutes, use words like "Bad Faith" "Be Advised" "Confidential" and "Legally Protected" and warn in serious terms what the consequences of ignoring this notice maybe - please pass me a sick bag...

TITLE 15, Sec 1125. False descriptions, and dilution of Trademarks and the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
Be advised: Protecting a domain name registrant or trademark owner from confusing and/or conflicting domain name registrations is not the responsibility of the domain and trademark registration processes. In the event of a registration of the above noted domain by a third party, the UDRP may be applied under the following conditions.

Evidence of Registration and Use in Bad Faith. - For the purposes of Paragraph 4(a)(iii), the following circumstances, in particular but without limitation, if found by the Panel to be present, shall be evidence of the registration and use of a domain name in bad faith:

(i) circumstances indicating that the domain name registered or acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the complainant who is the owner of the trademark or service mark or a competitor of that complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of your documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the domain name; or
(ii) the domain name has been registered in order to prevent the owner of the trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a corresponding domain name, provided that you have engaged in a pattern of such conduct; or
(iii) the domain name has been registered primarily for the purpose of disrupting the business of a competitor; or (iv) by using the domain name, registrant has intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to their web site or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement or your web site or location or of a product or service of a web site or location.

In addition to remedies provided for by the URDP, section 4a (1)(2)(3) & b (1)(2)(3)(4) existing registrants, trademark and service mark owners are provided by DUC on domain names that are identical with new ccTLD, TLD extentions, or domain names that are confusingly similar to their own.

You are required to advise the Domain Solutions Central of your intent to license this name on or before the expiration of this notice.

Note: you may disregard this notice. If you disregard this notice or fail to reply:
(a) The licensing rights of this domain name may be assigned to any other applicant,
(b) DUC and or any ICANN accredited registrar will not be liable for loss of domain name license, identical or confusingly similar use of your company's domain name; or interruption of business activity or business losses.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
If you fail to reply to DSC this domain may be registered by any third party without further notice. You must advise us of your intent to (a) secure this domain name or (b) to leave this domain name for Public Registration.
Call 1-800-270-5944
Notice Tracking Number: 1653812

The information in this letter contains confidential and/or legally privileged information from the notification processing department of the DSC. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above. Email support@domainsolutionscentral.com if you do not want to receive further updates from DSC. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents for this letter is strictly proh

Comments

[Kelly Gates]

David,

Thanks for your FUD based marketing post. I manage a small web site, hosted off site, for my company that posts job openings and bad weather closing announcements.

I just got the email from Domain Solutions Central just like yours. At first I wasn’t worried and planned to ignore it as junk mail because it wasn’t my domain. Mine is a .com not .us. Plus they would not have my email address for the .us. But then I got to thinking there was another person involved when we started the website. He has since retired but he was the type to do request something and use your name at the primary contact and requester. I was afraid that he ordered the domain before we launched the web site.

I decided to do a Google search for “Domain Solutions Central” and instantly found your blog. After reading your post I feel much better. Thanks again.

[Pete Williams]

David,

My experience was similar to Kelly's. Thanks.

Pete

[Aakash]

Before seeing Pete's comment, I was just going to say: my experience was similar to Kelly's as well. I did a Google search (though it should have been on GoodSearch), for domainsolutionscentral, and it is fortunate that this blog entry was on the front page of hits.

I have enough things to worry about, and get done - on the computer, for courses, in the political realm, for work-related issues, etc... It is a relief, in those cases in which it turns out that you don't have to take care of something - one less thing on the growing 'to-do' list!

Thank you once again, for this entry!!

[Kat Parrick]

Hi David,

Thank you for your posting! I came across your entry while on hold with Domain Solutions Central after a bevy of increasingly 'dire' notifications from DSC, which began w/the same email (posted above) to messages stating I was going to lose my rights to my own name if I did not follow up with DSC. Confused, I called their 1-800 number; thinking I had to reregister my domain to "protect" my copyright lol. Now prepped with the knowledge you provided, I was able to tell the guy to essentailly 'f-off' even as he babbled about the critical necessity for me to buy the rights to katherineparrick.us (.tv .net etc)! And all for the unbelievably low cost of $250 per domain lol. Thanks again for your post...Now I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your blog!

Cheers,

Kat

[Tim Biden]

I had one of my clients call me with this on Friday and I just looked at it. Instantly I noticed the difference between her registrar, Network Solutions, and this one, Domain Solutions Central. I read it and noticed that the domains are also different.

Thinking it was completely bogus but wanting to be certain, I googled it and found your post. I hope you don't mind if I create a link from my blog to yours. =)

Tim Biden

[Julian]

Found you via google. Thanks for the posting.

-JJ

[Carrie]

I agree with this post completely. Insurance- be it auto insurance, life insurance, or health insurance- is entirely based on the FUD philosophy. This practice needs to end!