This week Nominet received an instruction from the Metropolitan Police’s Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU) to take down around 1200 .co.uk domain names. These domain names have been under investigation for criminal activity.
As part of Operation Papworth, the PCeU have targeted web sites run by organised criminal networks that purported to sell designer items – clothes, jewellery and electronic goods. Many of the sites involved supplied counterfeit goods or in some cases simply failed to supply any goods to the consumers who placed orders. Nominet worked with the police and our registrars to quickly carry out the instruction to shut down access to these sites.
The scam websites were offering high demand, high value items such asUgg Australia Boots, ghd hair straighteners, and jewellery from Tiffany & Co and Links of London. Innocent shoppers were duped into making what appeared to be bargain purchases, but received either nothing at all or counterfeit products.
Let’s hope this quick action has not harmed the reputation of the UK domain registry or indeed the growth in online shopping.