Business owners have increasingly reported receiving emails from companies claiming to be Chinese domain registrars, warning that another entity is attempting to register their brand name under various Chinese domain extensions such as .cn or .com.cn.
These emails typically claim to be a courtesy notice, offering you the chance to protect your brand before these registrations go through. However, these messages are part of a well-documented scam designed to pressure companies into purchasing unnecessary domain names.
Example of a Scam Email
Here is a representative excerpt from one such email:
Dear [YourCompany]:
We are Shanghai Chooke Network Information Technology Co.,Ltd, which is the domain name register center in China.
We have received an application from “Wanda (China) Investment Co., Ltd.” to register domain names such as www.yourcompany.cn, www.yourcompany.com.cn, and the Internet keyword “yourcompany”.
We need your confirmation as these may relate to your brand or trademark. Please contact us as soon as possible.
Kind Regards,
Alex Tao
Shanghai Chooke Network Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Website: www.chooke.org.cn
Why This Is a Scam
While these messages may sound legitimate, there are several red flags:
- No legitimate registrar checks with brand owners before accepting domain registrations
- Terms like “Internet keyword” are not real domain-related concepts
- Scammers often choose a hyphenated version of your name (e.g., your-company) or something slightly off to appear relevant
- The real goal is to sell you unnecessary domain names through fear tactics
What You Should Do
- Do not respond
These emails are not legitimate and engaging with the sender may lead to persistent marketing or additional scams. - Do not purchase domain names under pressure
Only register additional domains if they make sense for your business strategy. - Report it as spam
Mark the message as spam or phishing in your email client to help filter future attempts.
If you are ever unsure about the legitimacy of a domain registration inquiry, feel free to reach out to us directly for guidance.