How to Spot and Stop the Scam:
Beware of Domain Slamming
Your domain name is more than just a web address—it’s your brand, your identity, and a vital business asset. But as with any valuable asset, it can become a target for scammers. One common and deceptive practice to watch out for is domain slamming.
What is Domain Slamming?
Domain slamming is a scam where shady companies send misleading domain renewal notices in an attempt to trick you into transferring your domain to them — often at a higher cost and with unfavorable terms.
These notices often arrive by physical mail, and they’re designed to look official.
They may include:
Threatening language about your domain “expiring soon”
Official-looking logos and letterheads
Offers to “renew” or “secure” your domain with urgent calls to action
But here’s the catch: these notices aren’t from your current domain registrar. They’re from third-party companies posing as legitimate providers.
We’re Seeing a Surge in Domain Slamming Attempts
Over the past few months, we’ve seen a notable uptick in these types of scams targeting our clients and other business owners across Medicine Hat, Alberta. These letters and emails are getting more sophisticated—using legal-sounding language, professional branding, and even mailing physical letters to add legitimacy.
Many of these notices come from entities with names like “Domain Registry” or “Internet Domain Name Services” that sound official but have no connection to your actual registrar or IT provider.
If you’ve received something like this recently, you’re not alone—these scams are on the rise.
How Domain Slamming Works
Let’s say your domain is registered through a trusted company like GoDaddy or Google Domains. You then receive a letter from an unfamiliar provider like “Domain Registry” warning you that your domain is about to expire.
The letter may:
Ask you to send a payment to “renew” your domain
Include upsells for other domain extensions (like .net or .org)
Suggest you’ll lose your website or email if you don’t act immediately
In reality, if you respond, you’re not renewing anything—you’re transferring your domain to another provider, often with higher fees and fewer protections.
Why It’s a Problem
Domain slamming is more than just a nuisance, it can result in:
Loss of control over your domain name
Unexpected costs or inflated renewal fees
Compromised website/email services if DNS settings are disrupted
Potential security risks, including phishing or data misuse
How to Protect Yourself from Domain Slamming
1. Know Who Your Registrar Is
Always keep a record of where your domain is registered and when it’s set to expire. Your domain provider will typically send reminders through email well before the expiration date.
If you’re a Partek client, your domain renewals will always come directly from Partek—never from a third party.
2. Ignore Unfamiliar Notices
If a domain renewal notice comes from a company you’ve never dealt with—don’t respond. Scammers rely on urgency and confusion to push you into making a quick decision.
3. Always Double-Check with Partek
Not sure if something is legitimate? Send it to us. We’ll review any domain notice or invoice you receive. If we manage your domain, we’ll immediately be able to tell whether it’s real or a scam.
4. Enable Domain Privacy Protection
Activate WHOIS privacy protection to keep your domain ownership details hidden. This helps reduce spam and scam attempts that rely on public registration data.
5. Lock Your Domain
Domain locking prevents unauthorized transfers. We enable this by default for domains under our care.
What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted
If you suspect you’ve fallen for a domain slamming attempt:
Contact Partek or your current registrar immediately
Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Avoid providing payment or personal details to the sender
Review your domain’s status to ensure it hasn’t been transferred
If Partek manages your domain, we handle renewals, DNS settings, privacy, and security — so you don’t have to lift a finger or worry about being duped by scammers.
Cybercriminals aren’t targeting you specifically — they’re hoping you don’t notice the bait. But with the right tools, awareness, and habits, you can make sure your business isn’t the one that gets caught.
If you’re unsure how secure your current email setup is, it’s worth asking. Because these days, email isn’t just for communication — it’s access to your entire business.
