I'm an engineer and sysadmin from the old days (think SGI Onyx), and I found myself in a bit of a mess. I lost a domain registration because of a series of unfortunate events. While I was out of the country, my credit card expired, and I couldn't access my email, leading to the domain expiring. Someone else has picked it up and keeps renewing it each year, but they haven't set up any website; the only thing pointing to an MX record is to forwardemail.net. The domain is registered through Onamae.com, a Japanese registrar, but their website is pretty confusing even with Google Translate. I need this domain back because it belongs to a friend of mine who's a niche celebrity, and I maintain his websites. I'm not sure if the current owner is a domain squatter or just a bot, but it's been three years and they haven't contacted either of us. Any advice on how I can go about retrieving it?
3 Answers
This scenario might not involve ransom. It’s likely just an unclaimed domain that someone is renewing without using. To approach it: check for any WHOIS privacy settings, consider hiring a domain broker who understands the Japanese market, and keep track of the domain’s renewal cycle. You can also reach out to Onamae’s English support for assistance. Good luck!
I recommend checking the WHOIS information to see if there’s any contact method available. Sending an email to common addresses like admin@ or contact@ could work since the MX points to forwardemail.net. If that doesn’t pan out, you might want to consider using a domain broker like GoDaddy or Sedo to help handle the negotiations for you.
Unfortunately, as long as the current owner keeps renewing the domain, your best bet is to reach out and make them an offer. They legally acquired it after your lapse, so you’ll have to negotiate if you want it back.
Thanks for the insight! I’ll keep an eye on the renewal date in December and think about reaching out.
I appreciate the advice! I hadn't considered a broker before, that might be a solid option.