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"Physical" website theft

Webdesigner does a runner with site and funds

         

Tanushiheadbash

4:10 pm on Sep 16, 2006 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Hi
Just looking for a little advice. (PS this is my first post under this username as my old account seems to not be working!)
A friend of an aquaintance has just come to me with a problem regarding a couple of online business they run. One is OK, but the other is new. The lady commissioned a webdesigner to build the site and host it, for her and it has been up for 3-4 weeks and is doing very well by all accounts- its brought in several thousand pounds already (lucky her!- wish I knew her secret:-)

Anyway the rub is that she was never given the control panel access or the base code details though she paid for the site and presumably had the idea.
The webdesigner- (a reseller) has done a runner. The payment system on the site used paypal and he has redirected the funds collection into his own paypal account and the lady has no way to access the site or content. She contacted me regarding if I could do anything with stopping the homepage working etc.
The best i could suggest was
a) go to the police
b)go to the hosting company (but they won't take instructions from anyone other than the account holder- the webdesigner)
c) The lady says she holds the domain ownership (a .biz domain) and so I reckon though don't know for a fact, that she ought to be able to get a court order that would permit the hosting company to block the site while its sorted out.
d) I got the paypal details so advised going to them to lock the funds also- if possible.

Obviously while thats sorted the site goes on collecting funds to the webdesigner.

While its an unusual case I bet this has happened a few times- any advice for what should be done to stop this? Its a UK based business.

Many thanks
Kenny

jimbeetle

4:26 pm on Sep 16, 2006 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



The lady says she holds the domain ownership (a .biz domain)

If she has access to the domain record a DNS change would be a good start. Otherwise, proof of ownership should be of some help with your option c.

<added>
If the designer did a runner and is bringing in money you should also consider the possibility that whatever goods or services are being sold are not being delivered. You should advise the domain owner that she might prepare herself for problems with unsatisfied customers.
</added>

Tanushiheadbash

4:37 pm on Sep 16, 2006 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I thought of the dns change one- but as she personally has no access to the domain control panel actually setting this in motion may be a problem. She could set about a transfer away from the existing host. The worry here though is that the actual site- the page code, may be lost. Not sure if the act of automated transfers might set about deleting the site itself.

Yes you are right that the complaints from customers might be an issue- and this is one she wants to head off by getting something onto the homepage but without access she is a bit stuck.

Also the site- essentially a directory advertiing service, needs to be up for her clients needs so before anything gets wrecked she needs to get "her" site code back.

I guess there is a lesson there in making sure you are given the site code and access when you pay for it!

 

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