People, please explain to me what do you have to hide? Why for crying out loud you believe that listing your domain as “Domains by Proxy” is a valid business practice? If you are trying to make me trust you, why would I want to do business with a company that isn’t even willing to publish its most public asset – it’s domain name.

Let’s have a look at a couple of large companies, shall we?

Amazon.com

Domain Name: amazon.com
Registry Domain ID: 281209_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar URL: http://www.markmonitor.com
Updated Date: 2014-04-30T12:11:08-0700
Creation Date: 1994-10-31T21:00:00-0800
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2022-10-30T21:00:00-0700
Registrar: MarkMonitor, Inc.
Registrar IANA ID: 292
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: email@markmonitor.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.2083895740
Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited (https://www.icann.org/epp#clientUpdateProhibited)
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited (https://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited)
Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited (https://www.icann.org/epp#clientDeleteProhibited)
Domain Status: serverUpdateProhibited (https://www.icann.org/epp#serverUpdateProhibited)
Domain Status: serverTransferProhibited (https://www.icann.org/epp#serverTransferProhibited)
Domain Status: serverDeleteProhibited (https://www.icann.org/epp#serverDeleteProhibited)
Registry Registrant ID: 
Registrant Name: Hostmaster, Amazon Legal Dept.
Registrant Organization: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
Registrant Street: P.O. Box 8102
Registrant City: Reno
Registrant State/Province: NV
Registrant Postal Code: 89507
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.2062664064
Registrant Phone Ext: 
Registrant Fax: +1.2062667010
Registrant Fax Ext: 
Registrant Email: email@amazon.com
Registry Admin ID: 
Admin Name: Hostmaster, Amazon Legal Dept.
Admin Organization: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
Admin Street: P.O. Box 8102
Admin City: Reno
Admin State/Province: NV
Admin Postal Code: 89507
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.2062664064
Admin Phone Ext: 
Admin Fax: +1.2062667010
Admin Fax Ext: 
Admin Email: email@amazon.com
Registry Tech ID: 
Tech Name: Hostmaster, Amazon Legal Dept.
Tech Organization: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
Tech Street: P.O. Box 8102
Tech City: Reno
Tech State/Province: NV
Tech Postal Code: 89507
Tech Country: US
Tech Phone: +1.2062664064
Tech Phone Ext: 
Tech Fax: +1.2062667010
Tech Fax Ext: 
Tech Email: email@amazon.com
Name Server: ns4.p31.dynect.net
Name Server: ns2.p31.dynect.net
Name Server: ns3.p31.dynect.net
Name Server: ns1.p31.dynect.net
Name Server: pdns6.ultradns.co.uk
Name Server: pdns1.ultradns.net
DNSSEC: unsigned
URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2018-02-11T00:16:39-0800 <<<

The Data in MarkMonitor.com's WHOIS database is provided by MarkMonitor.com for
information purposes, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or
related to a domain name registration record.  MarkMonitor.com does not guarantee
its accuracy.  By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree that you will use this Data
only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this Data to:
 (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited,
     commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail (spam); or
 (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to
     MarkMonitor.com (or its systems).
MarkMonitor.com reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.
By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy.

MarkMonitor is the Global Leader in Online Brand Protection.

MarkMonitor Domain Management(TM)
MarkMonitor Brand Protection(TM)
MarkMonitor AntiPiracy(TM)
MarkMonitor AntiFraud(TM)
Professional and Managed Services

Visit MarkMonitor at http://www.markmonitor.com
Contact us at +1.8007459229
In Europe, at +44.02032062220

For more information on Whois status codes, please visit
 https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/epp-status-codes-2014-06-16-en

Now, it is true that no people are listed in there, but they listed phone numbers, emails, physical mailing addresses – this isn’t a company in hiding, they are open, you can reach them, you can pick up the phone and get to a person – in other words, they are not afraid.

Now, let’s examine a smaller company.

IAMPLUS.COM

Domain Name: iamplus.com
Registry Domain ID: 140618828_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.corporatedomains.com
Registrar URL: www.cscprotectsbrands.com
Updated Date: 2018-01-22T06:36:56Z
Creation Date: 2005-01-26T19:14:13Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2019-01-26T19:14:13Z
Registrar: CSC CORPORATE DOMAINS, INC.
Registrar IANA ID: 299
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: email@cscglobal.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.8887802723
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited http://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
Registry Registrant ID: 
Registrant Name: Domain Administrator
Registrant Organization: i.am.symbolic, llc
Registrant Street: c/o Nigro Karlin Segal & Feldstein LLP
Registrant City: Los Angeles
Registrant State/Province: CA
Registrant Postal Code: 90024
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.3102290294
Registrant Phone Ext: 
Registrant Fax: +1.3102290294
Registrant Fax Ext: 
Registrant Email: email@nksf.com
Registry Admin ID: 
Admin Name: ArulPrasad Manoharan Lakshmi
Admin Organization: I.Am.PLUS ELECTRONICS INC
Admin Street: 809 N. Cahuenga Blvd.,
Admin City: Los Angeles
Admin State/Province: CA
Admin Postal Code: 90038
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.7024949966
Admin Phone Ext: 
Admin Fax: 
Admin Fax Ext: 
Admin Email: email@iamplus.com
Registry Tech ID: 
Tech Name: ArulPrasad Manoharan Lakshmi
Tech Organization: I.Am.PLUS ELECTRONICS INC
Tech Street: 809 N. Cahuenga Blvd.,
Tech City: Los Angeles
Tech State/Province: CA
Tech Postal Code: 90038
Tech Country: US
Tech Phone: +1.7024949966
Tech Phone Ext: 
Tech Fax: 
Tech Fax Ext: 
Tech Email: email@iamplus.com
Name Server: ns-1926.awsdns-48.co.uk
Name Server: ns-26.awsdns-03.com
Name Server: ns-737.awsdns-28.net
Name Server: ns-1331.awsdns-38.org
DNSSEC: unsigned
URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2018-01-22T06:36:56Z <<<

For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp

Corporation Service Company(c) (CSC)  The Trusted Partner of More than 50% of the 100 Best Global Brands.

Contact us to learn more about our enterprise solutions for Global Domain Name Registration and Management, Trademark Research and Watching, Brand, Logo and Auction Monitoring, as well SSL Certificate Services and DNS Hosting.

NOTICE: You are not authorized to access or query our WHOIS database through the use of high-volume, automated, electronic processes or for the purpose or purposes of using the data in any manner that violates these terms of use. The Data in the CSC WHOIS database is provided by CSC for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. CSC does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: you agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via direct mail, e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to CSC (or its computer systems). CSC reserves the right to terminate your access to the WHOIS database in its sole discretion for any violations by you of these terms of use. CSC reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.

Register your domain name at http://www.cscglobal.com
Yes, they published a real person name in there with real phone numbers. True, the information may be outdated or incorrect – but, you still are able to trace back if you want to and know that you are dealing with a real company and not some shady operation.

A COMPANY HIDING SOMETHING

Domain Name: XXXXXXXXXXXX.IO
Registry Domain ID: D5033000000XXXXXXXXXXXX-LRMS
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.godaddy.com
Registrar URL: http://www.godaddy.com
Updated Date: 2018-01-31T13:48:49Z
Creation Date: 2017-02-08T08:43:01Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2020-02-08T08:43:01Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date:
Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC
Registrar IANA ID: 146
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@godaddy.com
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.4806242505
Reseller:
Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientDeleteProhibited
Domain Status: clientRenewProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientRenewProhibited
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientUpdateProhibited
Registrant Name: Registration Private
Registrant Organization: Domains By Proxy, LLC
Name Server: NS31.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
Name Server: NS32.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
DNSSEC: unsigned
URL of the ICANN Whois Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://www.icann.org/wicf/
>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2018-02-11T19:27:19Z <<<
For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp
Access to WHOIS information provided by Internet Computer Bureau Ltd. ("ICB") is provided to assist persons in determining the contents of a domain name registration record in the ICB registry database. The data in this record is provided by ICB for informational purposes only, and ICB does not guarantee its accuracy. This service is intended only for query-based access. You agree that you will use this data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this data to(i) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission by e-mail, telephone, facsimile or other electronic means of mass, unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations to entities other than the data recipient's own existing customers; or (ii) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of Registry Operator, a Registrar, or ICB or its services providers except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. UK privacy laws limit the scope of information permitted for certain public access. Therefore, concerns regarding abusive use of domain registrations in the ICB registry should be directed to either (a) the Registrar of Record as indicated in the WHOIS output, or (b) the ICB anti-abuse department at abuse@icbregistry.info.
All rights reserved. ICB reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by these policies.

Normally, I will walk away from a company whose domain information looks like the above.

Now, who are you exactly? you are selling services on the internet, which you charge thousands of dollars for, why are you hiding? Are you laundering money? Are you working illegally? Are you engaged in some shady business that you don’t want people to associate to your directly? Why are you hiding?

Have you checked your suppliers/customers domain information before starting to work with them?

I say, time to stop the “Domains By Proxy” ill practice. It’s disrespectful to your customers, disrespectful for the Internet – and beyond all, it says much about you as a business owner, your honesty and your ability to deal in a transparent, clear and simple manner. If you hide your domain information, what else are you hiding?