Domain Renewal Scams – How to Protect Yourself

If you own a website, do not be surprised if you are on the receiving end of domain renewal scams in the future. Here is the information you need to know in order to keep from being scammed by these notices.

The domain name of your website is how your customers find your business online. An easy way to panic a website owner is to send an official looking invoice by letter or email that states, “Failure to renew your domain name may result in a loss of your online identity making it difficult for your customers and friends to locate you on the web.” That is just the type of domain renewal scam that our company received in the mail recently.

Anyone can go online and find domain names that will be up for renewal soon. The Whois database holds just enough information needed for a third party to sound informed. By inserting a website URL, anyone can find the domain name renewal date and the website contact’s name.

Some companies want to fool you into believing that the notice is from the actual host for your domain name. If you send a payment, you are agreeing to transfer your domain name registration from your hosting company to a new company with whom you might not be familiar. Not only that, but their fees may be higher than what your existing domain provider charges.

Do not be conned by domain renewal scams. Know the name of your domain name provider. Carefully read through notices regarding your domain name. A reputable marketing company will not send out unsolicited spam email advertisements so throw those ads away. If you have any questions about your website, please call Directory One at 713-269-3094 or visit us online today.