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HELP! My domain is being held hostage for $60,000!
Posted by gosmelltheflowers • 7/06/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blog, domain, Help, ransom, theft
Dear Contributor / Friend,
I had www.gosmelltheflowers.com stolen from me and I'm being asked to find $60,000 for it's return!
However, with every cloud and all that Jazz I've done something about it.
Paying the money isn't an option but I'm hopeful that the viral power of the internet will help bring the domain back.
Please do post your comments and advice here and at:
gosmellthecoffee.com/archives/10320
What started as an 'affiliate' turned into a nightmare that cost me 3 years work, almost 3,000 blog posts and 50,000 comments!
And spread the word - I'm aiming to get as many comments and support as possible on this as I'd hate to see it happen to anyone else 
Thanks for your support...
Feel free to blog, facebook and twitter or pass the post on!
Warm Rgds,
User Comments
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crazy stuff that he did to the domain ! -
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I don't understand nothing from just blog postings.
I thought if you buy a domain you own it? How can anyone steal it?-
I was told to move the domain from 1&1 over ot GO! Daddy by my Flora200 affiliate partner....
Not realising that their Founder would change passwords to the host, shutting me out thus taking complete control...
Hence the birth of www.gosmellthecoffee.com
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I don't know what to do so I thumbs go smell the flowers down www.stumbleupon.com/url/www.gosmelltheflowers.com/ and left a message.-
Hi Shiley..I'm at www.gosmellthecoffee.com for now - had to move quickly an dtruly - thansk for your support..60 comments in half a day at coffee!!
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Just tweeted too and sent your page at coffee to all my stumble friends.
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Nice try -
shouldn't you be talking to godaddy - instead of pushing the 2nd website? the new site has graphics and everything as if it's been planned for a while (or, at least that's the impression)-
Thanks for the compliment - the new site was a redesign from the original designers....smae concept replacing flowers for coffee...
It was 2 days solid work after I'd lost the domain.
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I stumbled and dug
Good luck!-
Thank you!
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Sounds like a poor attempt to promote your site. When you buy a domain you own it. Its in your name and unless you transfer it its yours. You get a C for effort.-
- Agreed. This "smells" of like promotion to me.
You get an D for being deceptive, and for
assuming we were too dumb to see through the ruse. -
WHAT - Are you serious?
2,900 blog post, 51, 00 comments and then it goes!
I'm doing this to prevent is happening to others....
Cheers, -
@gosmelltheflowers
shouldn't you be talking to godaddy - instead of pushing the 2nd website? the new site has graphics and everything as if it's been planned for a while (or, at least that's the impression)
- In the event that dbowles and I are wrong and this proves NOT to be the promotional launch of your new site, then I will offer you an apology.
It'ss hard to believe that anyone who has blogged as long as you have placed himself in a situation where a anyone had Admin access and could change the password.
It's harder still to believe that please for reader comments are the solution to the securing the return of the site. -
Totally agree.....something smells and it's not flowers or coffee!
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Ok thank you time thief, it appreciate it and its a tough time for me - all I'm looking for is the right legal help and support...
With 3 years of acitivty here, over $2000 given away in free flowers contest I've been a big part of this place - not so much this year but early days....
GODaddy won't entertain me because the username and password were changed by my old partner - despite the domain still recognised at my home address...
its gone badly wrong for me, the brand and the fact I've written a 160,000 word book (these are facts for the thread not promotion) of the title GO! smell the flowers plus trademark and ISBN number I'm struggling to get back the domain,
That's all.
This is the place to rasie it - I'd hate anyone else to be held hostage over 2,900 blog posts and 49,00 comments,
Thanks for the apology, it means alot right now,
I'm on Dubai radio this weekend and the press are now covering the story so no promo needed, thanks.
love n light,
Jim. -
From what I've read it seems to be a dispute between the partners of the site. It appears several of you are attempting to gain sole control of the ownership of GSTF.-
UPDATE:
Thanks to the thread here and emails to me I've got sound advice to get my domain back and increase awareness to prevent this happening to others.
I made a huge mistake agreeing to a domain transfer to a 'partner'
I feltit fit to post the thread here as I've had support from blogcats over the years and thank you for that,
cheers...
Jim
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I've now had a couple of shoutboxes suggesting I've staged the whole thing.
I wish it was staged...I really do.-
You lost the domain but you are still blogging on the GSTF blog? Why not write a blog post about it.
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I don't trust anyone living or dead. I even think the dead will rob me at the grave because they faked their death.
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@ good knife...I've had to re-host at coffee!! :0(
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I have no advice...sorry?
I'm sure there's some legal recourse if the whole thing isn't just a giant blunder? -
Give me a break this is 100% totally staged, it's all about self promotion and I take my hat off to you, great job!-
I wish it was - you're the 5th person to accuse me of self promotion..
Blog cat used to be a place I could help others and get help from....luckily 2 folks emailed me with my IP rights, trademark and the global domain body who take rulings on domain theft.
I'm on Dubai radio this Saturday and I strive to help others from being as niave as I was.
It's not traffic I want - its a purpose.
Thanks
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its not staged and self-promotion, it was all the hard work done to bring the site up in two-days ! huh, people are always ready to stab than to help !
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Thanks bladeaxe - thankfully the issue has been resolved and I'm exhausted...
I invite you to comment on my latest post - www.gosmellthecoffee.com - for my own sanity and closure...I dont give a toss about hits, visits and accusations of staging this issues....I've locked the other posts as it got way outta hand.... -
Ooops - I spoke too soon - cyber cops are now involved!! On the radio Saturday - 09:30 Dubai time gosmellthecoffee.com/archives/10428 Hope you tune in!
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I can't do videos...they suck up too much of my limited bandwidth.
So did it get resolved or not? Do you have your domain back? -
Man, I hate it when the d***ed thing gets stuck and then does a double post!
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Err.... if you have the email requests for the transfer and you have proof that you paid, it's a really easy fix (assuming the requests did not state that you we relinquishing control).
1. get your paperwork togther
2. drive, or walk down to your local civil court
3. pay the 75
4. win and get it back
OR
If it has been less than 15 days, just reverse the transfer. I have done that with 2 domains. You can pull it back if it's within that timeframe (even if you transfer it to someone else)-
Thanks Endlessly...
I'm based in Dubai - the other guy is in India so can't go that option....waiting for him to unlock the domain!
www.gosmellthecoffee.com
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So you willing transfered your domain to another person and now your crying fowl while promoting your new site? For real? Your even promotoing your radio program... You claim you don't care about hits and visits but in several posts you bemoan the loss of hits and comments... On your blog you claim Go lost your code? Pluezzzzzzzz! This reeks of fish.-
Thanks for this comment - I was advised by my now ex-tech partner in Mumbai to transfer hosts from my 1&1 account to his godaddy account as it offered ' better service'.
I did this in good faith but as soon as I had he changed passwords and demanded $60,000 ransom.
All I am trying to do is riase awareness about domain theft and the hits and comments have diminished because of the negativity in the blog.
The codes refer to the password protected posts that were getting nasty - despite the fall out I'm still protecting his reputation - and waiting for him to unlock the domain.
Blogcat used to be somewhere people could come for help - that is my main quest on what to do next....
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To put this issue to bed my recent radio interview to clarify this issue afgter accusations it has been staged:
My Dubai eye radio interview from last week: Click n Listen: Cheers! www.divshare.com/download/7905210-56e
Thanks!
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