They are registering domain names and providing hosting solutions for a long time, but not as long as me. So when it comes to experience they are nowhere near me (Don’t mean to brag though). Still, over the years they’ve gained quite a reputation and became popular among the people who do the web-stuff. I’ve had few domains registered through this company myself, but it was not until recently I’ve started to question myself – who is behind them!
Now, as you know privacy is a very sensitive issue and it’s become quite a thing these days. So, while many national domain registrars lack the privacy ethics (for example our .ge domain registrar), godaddy.com among other foreign registrars were good solutions not asking any stupid and private questions. Least not until recently. I would call the last experience with godaddy anything but pleasant.
After having a domain registered in a good manner and standard way and setting up working name servers and nearly launching a new website I’ve been contacted by GoDaddy and asked to provide a copy of my ID. Not as if the information provided while registration was not enough, additionally I was asked to provide my photo, ID, billing documentation and a copy of my Credit Card! Well, I’m not the kind of person who easily jumps into conclusions, but all that leads to a suspicion that someone (bad) is using GoDaddy to gain the control over private information by sneaking into our private lives! No wonder there are so many ID’s stolen lately!
Passports, ID’s and Credit Cards are private! Only certain embassies and government organizations SOMETIMES have the right to request it. International border officers have the right to look at your passport check validity! But, there is no way any LLC, LTD or other unknown (or known) organizations, companies or people could ask for it, unless you are willing to become a happy victim of a human trafficking and have your ID stolen!
Be aware of that and REPORT any suspicious activities! Never provide your private information to people ask for it by email or in person (or any other way)! When it comes to domains, there’s are many professional registrars who respect the common ethics and will be happy to provide services without any unnecessary troubles. Ditch the companies and people who ask for it pretending to be “Fraud Department” or other factious characters and ask if they are willing to provide their own IDs first. Legal entities should have no problems to provide their IDs before requesting yours! And remember, you never know who you are sending your fragile information to. There could be criminals or ex-convicts on the other end!
Thanks this really cleared up alot of things
I have now canceled my domain with go daddy as i have had to many problems lucky i dident give em my Id.
Thank you very much
So did I with two other domains I had registered before with Godaddy.
Just has the same exact issue happen. Website was up for 2 days before they did the same thing to me. I called customer support, spoke to a supervisor, who was very shady and told me the only way to contact someone from the “fraud department” would be through email. Riiiiiiiight. As soon as the domain name is released, I am going through register.com – I was assured by a sales rep from them that they would never require a photo ID unless it was a last resort (customer forgot password, could not verify billing address, etc).
well after reading your post the question of who is behind godaddy is still unanswered, but the vague issue taught me that nothing is safe when it goes to online.
Thanks for the warning!
I guess people who steal identities