"Another company is trying to register some <company name> domain names with us" - legit?

Question

I was wondering if anyone has encountered this before and knows whether or not it's legitimate.

A domain registrar - e-int.cn - has just contacted me. They claim that another party is attempting to register domains for our company name and are asking for us to authorise or deny this registration request.

We currently own the .co.uk, .com, .de, and .uk domains.

My question is, is this legitimate? Is there legislation that exists that requires registrars to check with a registered company whether to release domain names?

Or is it a scam, and if so what could they possibly gain from me replying?

Answer 1

This is a known "scam".

This is a legitimate, though questionable approach. Big chance there isn't actually anyone trying to register it, they just tell you that to add time pressure. They do nothing wrong with offering it to (and if they're not offering it now, they will be in their follow up mail).
They often simply do [your_domain].[some less common extention] via an automated process.

They're trying to scare people into buying the domains. We've encountered this a few times ourselves, that a client of ours will call us to say that someone has offered them the same as you've been offered. They're often slightly panicked that someone might 'steal their domain'. We then explain that they're hoping you panic and buy the domain(s). Sometimes acting all 'friendly' that they wanted to inform you first.

The question you must ask yourself: Is this a domain I'd like to have?
- If so, register it yourself (or via your host) because they haven't actually registered it for you
- If not -> ignore them.