The recent incident involving NJAL.LA, also known as Njalla, and their hijacking of Mollars.com from the “Mollars Cryptocurrency Project” has brought the domain registry company into the cryptocurrency spotlight. The sudden shutdown of the project’s original domain without any explanation raised concerns among crypto investors. In response to the questions surrounding the incident, a tweet was shared via X (formerly twitter) to shed light on the situation. According to the tweet, the domain “Mollars.com” was hijacked by NJAL.LA, a rogue domain registry service that, surprisingly, has in their terms and conditions the ownership of domains registered through their service. In order to tackle this issue, the Mollars project has shifted to the domain “Mollars.cc” while continuing to fight for the recovery of their original domain. This revelation rightly raises suspicions and prompts traders to question the legitimacy of NJAL.LA as a domain registry service.
A quick search of NJAL.LA using terms like “Njal.la stealing domains” or “Njal.la scam” reveals shocking search results. It turns out that the supposed “decentralized-like” domain registry service is not a registry at all; it simply masquerades as one. Rather than registering the domains on behalf of their clients, the company purchases the domains and retains ownership without their clients’ knowledge or consent. This dubious practice is not made clear on their sales pages, leaving unsuspecting customers vulnerable to potential domain ownership disputes. The “about us” page on NJAL.LA’s website further adds to the confusion, stating that when a domain is registered through their system, they become the actual registrant rather than acting as a proxy. While clients still have control over their domains and can use their own data, the ownership lies with NJAL.LA. Moreover, prominent figures like Peter Sunde, the co-founder of the controversial internet site Pirate Bay, are associated with the company, further tarnishing its reputation.
A Threat to Mollars and Countless Others
The deceptive practices of NJAL.LA pose a serious threat not only to Mollars but also to hundreds of other domain owners who have been affected by their unscrupulous actions. Complaints about NJAL.LA can be found on various platforms, including SEO forums, TrustPilot, and Reddit. The fallout from NJAL.LA’s domain hijacking has put the Mollars.com domain at risk, causing concern among cryptocurrency supporters of the Mollars project. The loss of the “.com” domain, which is generally viewed as more trustworthy, in favor of a “.cc” domain may lead to a decrease in investor confidence. However, it is important to note that the funds raised for the Mollars token project remain secure despite the domain debacle. Token presale funds are not stored on the actual domain but in a crypto wallet with a special key for access. Alongside the wallet key, the smart contract used for payments adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that the funds go to the right place. Therefore, even with the domain in the hands of NJAL.LA, they do not have access to the funds raised through the token presale.
The Motive behind Domain Hijacking
The motive behind the rampant domain hijacking by NJAL.LA and other similar entities is likely rooted in the potential profitability of these domains. Once a domain gains significant value, such as Mollars.com in the cryptocurrency niche, it can be resold on the black market for substantial sums of money. Additionally, in highly competitive sectors like cryptocurrency, unscrupulous actors like Peter Sunde and his company could extract backdoor payments from rival brands by “sniping” their domains for a hefty fee. This lucrative business further exposes the dark side of the fake domain registry industry.
Despite the setbacks caused by NJAL.LA’s actions, there is still hope for the Mollars token project. The Mollars team continues to provide updates on the token presale through their new domain, Mollars.cc. It remains a possibility that the original domain, Mollars.com, will be returned to the project creator in the future. As of now, the Mollars ICO has successfully raised nearly $520,000 (USD) and is on track to sell all 4-million tokens of the available presale supply by the end of the month.
NJAL.LA’s domain registry service, Njalla, has come under scrutiny and criticism for their deceptive practices and hijacking of the Mollars.com domain. The incident highlights the need for caution when dealing with domain registry services and serves as a reminder to conduct thorough research before entrusting a company with valuable domains.
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