Somebody just told me that an employee at a popular domain registrar stole their domain name. I find it hard to believe but it does sound possible. How often does this type of thing happen?

I've heard of it before however I've never sceen any real evidence to support it. AKA its under the owneres name.

How often does this type of thing happen?

Probably as often as someone cares to report it, much more able to prove such.

That's one inherent risk.

I have also heard of such things. Most people don't bother to report it, they just get a new domain name.

I think you're more at risk for someone monitoring your whois queries than explicitly stealing your domain name.

I think the person I was chatting with was just speculating that an employee stole their domain name. If this did happen, it could very well have been a hacker.

On the side, I barely recall one thread in NamePros on this subject. The employee was fired, I think, and the registrar managed to rectify that because it was promptly notified by the domain's registrant or so.

Contacting the registrar quickly can make all the difference.

All this hearsay is unsubstantiated by any facts.

All this hearsay is unsubstantiated by any facts.

so were the WMDs ;)

why would this be at all surprising?

besides the registrars are doing this legally anyway by 'tasting' and grabbing names and putting them up in anonymous 'auctions'.