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Myers says domain name �guarantee� is scam Attorney General Hardy Myers on Monday warned Oregon Internet users of a scam proliferating online offering pre-registration of new "top-level domain" names. Domain names enable Internet users to locate specific Web sites. The top-level domain (TLD) is the final extension on and Internet address such as ".com," ".gov," or ".org." The selection of seven new TLD names was recently announced by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The names and purposes include ".aero" for those in the air transport industry, ".biz" for businesses, ".coop" for cooperatives, ".info" for unrestricted use, ".museum" for museums, ".name" for registration by individuals, and ".pro" for accountants, lawyers and physicians. "Con artists are taking advantage of the new TLD announcement by targeting would-be Web site owners in Oregon," Myers said. "Consumers are receiving misleading faxes and e-mail solicitations that, for a fee, guarantee ownership or preferential treatment in the registration process of one of the new TLDs." The new TLDs are not expected to be operational until the second quarter of 2001 and no companies have yet been accredited to register names in any of the new TLDs. The Attorney General�s Office recommends: Avoiding any domain name pre-registration service that guarantees particular TLDs of preferential treatment in the assignment of the new TLDs. Disregarding businesses sending unsolicited faxes and e-mails with offers on TLDs. Monitoring news about the new TLDs on the ICANN site at www.icann.org on the Web. Checking for complaints by calling the attorney general�s consumer hotline at 877-877-9392. Oregon Department of Justice information on TLD scams is online at www.doj.state.or.us or from the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.org on the Web. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.