Long story short my mom got a call from someone wanting to know if she wanted to renew her website (Hint: She doesn't have one). She told the person she didn't know anything about it and to not renew. The email associated contains her name but with random numbers @hotmail. I got all the information from her on the domain from her and did some research.

Domain = windblow.biz (Currently a generic spam looking site)
Web Host = Lunarpages (Seems like a legit host)
Registrar = TUCOWS

Now the fun part is when I do a WHOIS this is the information for the owner is private and the address data points to the registrar TUCOWS location.

Administrative Contact ID: TU3Z9NEFIVFYFVK9
Administrative Contact Name: Contact Privacy Inc. Customer 0127665558
Administrative Contact Organization: Contact Privacy Inc. Customer 0127665558
Administrative Contact Address1: 96 Mowat Ave
Administrative Contact City: Toronto
Administrative Contact State/Province: ON
Administrative Contact Postal Code: M6K 3M1
Administrative Contact Country: Canada
Administrative Contact Country Code: CA
Administrative Contact Phone Number: +1.4165385457
Administrative Contact Email: windblow.biz@contactprivacy.com


I didn't think you were able to hide that information like that. I go to the contactprivacy.com and there's a web form to contact but no way to determine who owns it unless they respond to your form request. Anybody have any ideas to get around this or somewhere the data might be listed.

6/9/2011 5:59:19 PM

Anyone can register a domain through a proxy registration service. I don't think there's much else you can do until they respond.

6/9/2011 6:22:11 PM

there are also many proxy services that are in business purely to protect spammers

6/9/2011 6:27:42 PM

^Yeah I pretty much know its a spammer I'm just trying to find out as much info as I can to make sure there's no identity theft involved.

My guess is that the name and phone number for my mom where just grabbed off public records or somebody trawling for data online. No theft or anything has happened but just trying to be careful.

6/9/2011 6:31:31 PM

first, what is the point of investigating the windblow.biz domain?

second, no you will not be able to get the actual info on who registered the windblow.biz domain

it sounds like you are just wasting your time to investigate a telemarketer.

6/9/2011 6:34:02 PM

^Mostly just to figure out how bad the scam is.

6/9/2011 6:38:37 PM

the domain is arbitrary. I could call you up tomorrow and ask you if you wanted to renew your windblowz.com domain. I could charge you, take your money and have nothing to actually do with the domain itself. Hence why it is no use to investigate the domain. You'd probably want to start with the caller id number from the phone call if it wasn't blocked.

6/9/2011 8:14:46 PM

^That was my first inclination was that someone was phishing to try and get her to pay for something she doesn't need. After some investigation the webhost appears to be legit and the call from the actual webhost.

That's why I went tried to find who owns the domain. They won't give out any info without account information which we don't have since didn't open the account.

[Edited on June 9, 2011 at 8:40 PM. Reason : I know there's not much going to be found here but just figure out as much as can be.]

6/9/2011 8:36:49 PM

Welcome to the world of slamming and cramming. If they really wanted to and unless you have a third party block on your line, she will have already renewed the domain and she'll see it on the next phone bill.

Look up these practices in conjunction with the telecomm act of sometime in the 90s (I forget the name).

You always want to make sure there's a PIC freeze on your account (making it necessary to fax or mail a signed LOA before your long distance provider can be changed) and also block all third party billing (which may or may not affect collect calls, I don't remember). If you do find some sketchy charges on your bill, the provider will usually dispute and credit you over the phone.

[Edited on June 9, 2011 at 9:43 PM. Reason : add. info]

6/9/2011 9:40:11 PM