I have noticed a disturbing
situation: internet provider Verizon
is stealing traffic from unused domains and subdomains and directing Verizon
customers to various places.
For most of the
thefts, Verizon customers are directed to a parking page filled with ads.
For example, asad.1-25.com
(this is my domain, and the subdomain is unused) goes here for Verizon
customers:
And even Scamful isn’t
immune: asad.scamful.com redirects here:
More
specifically, if an unused subdomain domain name is similar to another name,
Verizon engages some kind of algorithm and redirects it to a specific page.
For example, for
Verizon customers, the unused subdomains Sales.1-25.com
and Sales.Scamful.com takes them to
I have tested
this on some of my other unused subdomains, and I have found the same redirect.
In other words, if
you own domains (either for business or resale), Verizon is stealing pieces of
YOUR unused property to redirect it to their ads on their parking pages and
their advertisers.
Even if you aren’t a Verizon customer, you
are still affected because if Verizon customers conduct a search on your unused domains or subdomains, they will be redirected to Verizon
parking pages or specific pages with similar terms. It doesn’t matter who owns
the domain.
Why is this
important?
1. THEY ARE STEALING FROM YOU AND MAKING MONEY OFF YOUR DIGITAL
PROPERTY!
2. Most importantly, if their ad pages are filled with ads that could be
construed as trademark infringement, YOU COULD LOSE YOUR DOMAIN in a UDRP, even
though you are completely innocent!!!
This week, I’m
going to look into the possibility of hiring a lawyer to send a Cease and
Desist letter to Verizon, and perhaps file a contingency or class action
lawsuit.
If your internet
provider is Verizon, I invite you to test this for yourself, on both my
examples and your own unused domains.
By
the way, these are Go Daddy domains; unfortunately, Go Daddy does not offer
subdomain wildcarding, but, perhaps, they should start.
If you use
another registrar, look into the possibility of using a wildcard command to
redirect your infinite number of subdomains to one specific page.
Unfortunately, if you are using any of your subdomains in your business, this
option won’t be available to you.
By the way, other
internet providers may also be stealing your unused domains and subdomains; you
might want to check how your internet provider handles unused digital property.
Meanwhile, I’ll
keep you up-to-date on my plans regarding legal action.
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