UPDATE 27/04/24. The "office of the ceo's" Emma has replied, and guess what? "As much as we would like to help and gain back this domain, I am sorry to let you know that it is not something we can do as it is now registered with a different provider." THEY THINK IF THEY IGNORE IT IT WILL GO AWAY. Fact: it is absolutely unquestionably not owned by a third party. They still own it, albeit their parent company. They have offered me alternative domain names, free for a year. But the only domain i can use is the one that is on all my stationary, promotional stuff, tools, branded accessories etc etc. I will continue to spread the truth about these common thieves.For several years I have paid 123-reg for my domain name. They contact me regularly and often re my account. I stopped receiving emails on 11/02/24. Then my online shop went down. I discovered that a payment failed in February (I changed debit card) and that my domain name was subsequently sold on. But, the current owner is godaddy who owns 123. They are asking 2k to get my name back. I have received no email from 123 since February 11th and have asked them to provide proof as they say they advised about my domain and it would be sold. A quote from them: "As no renewal has been made, the domain expired, entered the auction phase where it was been purchased by another person, and therefore it can no longer be recovered." This is a lie, as the other person is in fact them, godaddy is the auction site, and they are the ones who are selling. Unless they are trying to say that they sold it in auction to godaddy who are now trying to sell it on? To me this is an obvious scam. I have subsequently received a copy of an email allegedly sent to me telling me that my billing would be attempted again. And that is the final email that 123 themselves say they sent.I have now filed a report to Action Fraud and have also submitted reports to several dailies. They must be stopped. This is blatant FRAUD.