Questionable sales tactics used to push domain names on unsuspecting companies are becoming an increasing problem and it is time that organisations had some form of protection against such underhand practices.

Organisations are often tricked into spending thousands of pounds on multiple versions of their name to protect themselves against competition from a "mystery shopper".

Disreputable resellers will claim that someone is trying to buy the company's name, often suggesting it is an ex-employee or a porn site, and give their victim just minutes to act. Companies are protective about their online name and so are seen as easy prey.

Under that pressure, would you buy or would you say no?

This is a real example of caveat emptor: let the buyer beware. Those that do opt to buy when put on the spot rarely, if ever, find their names have been bought. Because if someone is going to register your name, it will be done without your knowledge and before you can act.

Far worse, if you bought from a reputable dealer, you would have paid a fraction of the cost.

To date, no one has been prepared to take authority and clamp down on these practices. Internet body Nominet says it is not its responsibility, and trading standards are unclear how to proceed.

Action needs to be taken to stop this practice. Companies need to be protected from dodgy dealers selling unneeded names at premium prices.