Domain name registrar Internetters is warning people not be fooled into pre-registering for .eu domain names.

It claims that internet fraudsters are already scamming people about the new .eu domain name, even though it has only just received endorsement from the European Parliament.

Ken Sorrie, co-founder and director of Internetters, said that some registration companies are taking money for pre-registrations of .eu when there is not even a registry appointed, or rules defined.

".eu as a new top-level domain name has only just received the go-ahead from the European Commission [EC] and Parliament. It may be many months, possibly over a year, before the correct and accredited systems of registration are in place and we strongly advise people not to part with any money until the registry and rules have been defined," he said.

The EC is in the process of selecting a private, not-for-profit organisation to manage the .eu domain. Its remit will include defining rules to stop cyber-squatting and ensuring that any cross-country disputes over .eu names are quickly resolved.

Sorrie said: "It would be good if the Commission or the registry, when it is established, has the authority to put these fraudsters out of business before they blacken yet another new domain name introduction."