Domain name renewal scams can work a few different ways, but are always very similar in nature. We recently had a client fall for one of these scams. Unfortunately, we were the last one our client called when this happened.

The scam usually starts out with an email or a letter to the domain name owner saying that their domain name is up for renewal and if it isn’t renewed quickly the owner will loose it. Domain name ownership is normally public knowledge as well as the administrators email address, so it is very easy to acquire contact information.

Once the owner receives the letter they will most likely take it serious and since the amount isn’t very much, usually $30 or less they will go ahead and send the check. If you’re lucky you just loose your money.

If you’re not so lucky you could be caught up in one of many international check scams that involves the scammers using the checks to gain access to your account or even rewrite the checks using very sophisticated ink dissolving methods. I’ve personally heard of the ink dissolving scam costing a company over $50,000.

Sometimes the scammers will send you an invoice for a domain name that is very similar to your current domain name, the scammer hopes that you don’t notice the difference and just pay the invoice.

Alternatively, you could be sent a letter that looks like a renewal notice for your actual domain name, but is from a different company other than the one you have previously used to register your domain name.

Some of these companies that are sending out these letters are actually well established businesses that have been selling domain names legitimately, but they are also using this scam to gain control of your domain name and force you to transfer your domain name to their company.

Here are some warning signs to watch out for:

• You receive a letter that looks like an invoice for the registration or renewal of your domain name.
• The domain name listed in the invoice is very similar to your actual domain name, but may have a different ending. For example, it may end in .net.au instead of .com.au or the .au at the end may be missing.
• The domain name may be correct, but the letter is not from the company that you previously used to register your domain name.

Protect yourself from domain name renewal scams

• Your first defense should be to contact your original company you registered with in the first place. Just make sure the business billing you is the one you normally deal with.
• Check the website address carefully. Scammers often set up fake websites with very similar addresses.
• Always check that goods or services were both ordered and delivered before paying an invoice.
• Read all the terms and conditions of any offer very carefully: claims of free or very cheap offers often have hidden costs.

If you have been scammed you need to report the offenders to the proper authorities right away. As long as they keep getting away with this type of scam it will continue to get worse. Here is a helpful link to the Federal Trade Commission where you can fill out a form and submit a complaint. https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01