For Immediate Release:

Contact: Mandi Pryor

412-221-4100

Southwestcommunitieschamber.org mandi@southwestregionalchamber.org

Domain Squatters Take Hostage of South West Communities Chamber Website

(Bridgeville, PA) The South West Communities Chamber of Commerce domain has been taken over by illegal Cyber Squatters. The “Squatters” purchased the domain after a host error was made, which accidentally put the domain name up for auction this past March. The squatters purchased the domain name and have now placed a pornography site in its place, in hopes that the chamber would pay an exorbitant price to get back their domain.

Executive Director Mandi Pryor claims. “The South West Communities Chamber of Commerce is a trusted community entity and this is a great loss for our small trade business, as this has been our website domain for many years. We are asking that people share our new domain, southwestregionalchamber.org, and acknowledge that this is likely a permanent change. The former domain is unfortunately NSFW (not safe for work) any longer.”

The chamber is taking action by filing a complaint with ICann (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), but it is unlikely that they will see a change in the near future. As a long-term solution, the domain has now been changed to southwestregionalchamber.org, as well as all email addresses affiliated to the chamber.

Mandi Pryor adds, “As a chamber, we want to also remind our local businesses to take precautions to ensure that they are protected from ransomware, cyber attacks, domain squatting and viruses, among other online threats. Do not wait until something like this has happened to you and your business.”

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