An Australian domain scammer has declared bankruptcy after facing $1M+ in legal judgements.
The scammer Bradley Norrish, along with business partner Chesley Rafferty, ran a group of companies that sent fake invoices to UK domain holders in 2003. The suit was brought on by UK registry Nominet because Norrish launched a large-scale data mining attack on Nominet’s Whois database.
But Norrish doesn’t seem to have any remorse for his actions. According to an article in The Register, he vows to return to the domain name market should the opportunity be ripe:
“I’m sure most of you on the domain list will be pleased to hear I am now declared officially bankrupt. This will undoubtedly bring varying levels of happiness to those involved in selling domains from those who raise a slight smile, to those who leap enthusiastically out of their chairs,” Norrish writes.
“It was officially at 4.50pm yesterday afternoon that the Pink Bankruptcy Card was raised to send me off the field for three years. So a big congratulations to the captain of the opposite team Nominet as well as all their supporters. If the game’s still worth playing in three years time I might just get a recall, and if I do you know it will be with fresh legs.”
Like any growing market, the domain name market has its share of unsavory players. Another group that will eventually take a fall is Domain Registry Support. (See Domain Registry Support doesn’t know when to stop.) They’re playing on a fine line between legal and illegal, and certainly behaving unethically. Eventually someone will nail them for crossing that line.
bankruptcy site guy says
That response is quite bold, to say the least. His behavior amounted to fraud. I’m surprised his debt will be wiped out. It would not be if he filed in the States.