domain slamming(?)

[cc <cc () belfordhk com>]

Dear All,

Awhile back, I received an e-mail and fax from this guy supposedly
representing this CNNIC accredited registrar stating (along the
lines of an unnamed Mainland China company submitting an application
to register some Internet Keywords and chinese domain name using
my company's (the company that I work for) English and Chinese name.
The guy even faxed a 'certificate of authorization' to me to 'prove'
that his company was accredited.  (This supposed certificate,
which I haven't bothered verifying its authentication, looks quite
'legit-like'. (think: Photoshop))

The letter appeared very 'urgent' and required 'immediate' attention.
(Reminds me of Nigerian Scams, btw).   I got a few responses here
but thought the better of it and ignored the guy completely.
He called and I just said we weren't interested.

Well, just recently another guy from the same 'accredited' registrar
called (and faxed) about another company (sister company to the
first one).  Again. Same M.O.

I did a search and came up with the following site:

http://www.legitiname.com/article.php3?id_article=152

The M.O. in the 'sample' letter in this site is similar to
the one I received, including the wanton sprinkling of the
CNNIC name in the letter.

While I doubt anyone in Europe or North America will have any
troubles with this CNNIC issue(unless your company's thinking
of moving into the Chinese market), it is still worth
paying attention how 'time-pressure' tactics work.   To
be truthful, I nearly did get fooled by the initial letter;
that is, until I read carefully and thought about it more.

So, the aforementioned site does makes a good suggestion.
Don't Panic.  Even if the letter gives the impression that
it's a do-or-die situation, calm down and think.


Edmund