Questionnaire to determine appropriate practices to verify the accuracy of domain name registrant data known as "WHOIS" data.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has formed a task force to determine appropriate practices to verify the accuracy of domain name registrant data known as "WHOIS" data. The Task Force involved with studying and making recommendations to ICANN regarding data verification practices is tasked with contacting companies in other industries who engage in online transactions to determine what their practices and methodologies are for determining and verifying the accuracy of the identification of customers with whom they transact business online. The Task Force hopes to gather this information, review and summarize it, and then make a recommendation to ICANN about data verification practices which might be applied in the domain name context to ensure and verify accurate domain name registrant data.

Toward that end, we would greatly appreciate it if your company would complete the following survey and e-mail the results to tf3-survey@gnso.icann.org by February 16, 2004.

We greatly appreciate whatever information you can provide.

Click here for a text version of the survey

Here are the questions which we would like you to address:

1. What steps do you take to verify the accuracy of data that is submitted to your company as part of an online transaction?

a) automated review

b) Manual review of all data

c) Random manual review

d) None

e) Other: please describe:

2. How do you ensure that the customer's name, address and other identifying information is correct?

a) check manually

b) check against existing internal/external databases via automated processes

c) no verification

d) other: please explain

3. Do you rely on a web GUI, online template or other up front screening mechanism that the customer must complete to encourage the accurate listing of identifying information?

Yes: IF yes, please identify which apply No:

a) web GUI

b) automated template

c) software "matches"

4. Do you use credit card information and passwords to verify the accuracy of the customer's identity and the legitimacy of the transaction?

Yes: No: Not applicable:

5. Do you believe these systems are effective to provide your company with an upfront warning about inaccurate data or potential frauds in online transactions?

Yes: No: Not applicable:

6. What steps do you take when you learn that your customer data may be inaccurate or instances of fraud are reported?

a) contact customer for correction

b) initiate internal investigation

c) send notice that transaction or service may be terminated

d) combination of the above (please describe)

e) none of the above (please describe)

7. Do you have a process in place for receiving reports of inaccuracies or fraud? What is that process?

a) yes

b) no

c) If yes; please describe

Once you have completed the survey, please e-mail the results to tf3-survey@gnso.icann.org by February 16, 2004.

We appreciate your time in completing this survey.