Newest Domain Squatters: Network Solutions

If you search for a domain name on Network Solution’s web site, be warned that you are setting yourself up. Once Network Solutions is alerted to the fact that you are interested in a particular domain name, that is their signal to grab it themselves. Here is how Network Solutions domain name squatting practice works:

1. You visit their site to search and see if a particular domain name is available
2. You type the domain name into their search (I searched for “networksolutionsnorthcarolina.com“).
   
3. You see that it is available and proceed through their lengthy checkout process.
4. In the end, you decide you do not want to pay Network Solutions outrageously high domain name registration fee – $34.99 for one year.
   
5. You then go to another domain name registrar that has reasonable prices and check their rates, let’s say GoDaddy. However, when you search for that very same domain name, you are surprised to see that the domain name is already taken! How can that be? Network Solutions just said a few minutes ago that it was available and you were getting ready to purchase it until you decided they were charging too much.
   

It appears that Network Solutions registered the domain name immediately after they were alerted to the fact that I was interested in that particular domain name. What? Surely you can’t be serious. Yes, I am serious and stop calling me Surely (movie quote – what is the movie?).

I first read about this yesterday on Aaron Wall’s SEO Blog and I was quite amazed. Several other bloggers are also talking about it:
Search For Domains At Network solutions, Face Extortion
Network Solutions + Unethical go hand and hand
NSI Registers Every Domain Checked
Network Solutions’ Defensive Measure for Whois Searches
Network Solutions Front Running
Network Solutions Faces PR Nightmare Over Domain FrontRunning
NetworkSolutions Scandal: Hijacking User Domain Searches

They have even hijacked Bill Hartzer’s personal name. It is absolutely crazy that Network Solutions would do this and amounts to domain name hijacking. So, steer clear of Network Solutions. We don’t like dealing with them anyway and this is just another example of their “strong-arm” tactics that have negatively impacted numerous unsuspecting people.