Beware of Domain Slamming:
Protect Yourself from Scam Domain Expiration Notices
In the vast landscape of the internet, where businesses thrive and individuals connect, domain names serve as the digital addresses of our online presence.
However, amidst the legitimate operations of domain registration, there lurks a deceptive practice known as “Domain Slamming.”
What is Domain Slamming?
Domain Slamming is a deceptive tactic employed by certain entities within the domain registration industry. Essentially, it involves sending unsolicited and misleading communications to domain owners, urging them to transfer their domains under the guise of an imminent expiration notice. These communications often mimic official notices and may even carry logos resembling legitimate domain registries.
Recently, a resurgence of this fraudulent activity has come to light, prompting us to revisit this issue and provide crucial insights into protecting oneself from falling victim to such scams.
Recognizing the Scam:
One recent example brought to our attention involved a letter purportedly sent by ‘Domain Registry,’ complete with an official-looking envelope and letterhead. This communication outlined domain expiration details, renewal terms, and even included upsells for additional domain extensions. However, closer inspection revealed the telltale signs of a scam.
Who is 'Domain Registry,' and Why is This a Scam?
A domain registrar is a company or organization that manages the reservation of internet domain names. These entities are accredited by domain name registries, which are organizations responsible for managing and coordinating the allocation of domain names in specific top-level domains (TLDs).
Some widely used domain registrars you may have heard of are GoDaddy and Google Domains.
Think of a domain registrar like a real estate agent for the internet. Just as a real estate agent helps you find and register a physical address for your home, a domain registrar helps you find and register a digital address for your website.
The scammers behind Domain Slamming often adopt names resembling legitimate registries to deceive domain owners. However, they have no affiliation with the official entities overseeing domain management.
The misleading nature of these communications, coupled with the unsolicited nature of their delivery, raises serious ethical and potentially legal concerns. Moreover, the collection of payment details without adequate transparency further underscores the dubious intentions behind these practices.
Have you ever received one of these?
Protecting Yourself:
If you receive a domain expiration notice from an unfamiliar sender, exercise caution. Legitimate domain registrars, such as Webnames, send renewal reminders through verified channels, ensuring authenticity and transparency.
Forwarding any domain-related notices to Partek is always a safe bet – We can review them to determine their legitimacy. If we host your website or manage your IT infrastructure, there’s a high probability that we also oversee your domain. Typically, we consolidate all your technological assets under our management services, ensuring streamlined operations and peace of mind for our clients.
Here are some steps you can take to safeguard against domain slamming:
Verify the Sender: Ensure that renewal notices come from recognized and trusted sources. Webnames sends renewal reminders only from official email addresses and includes identifiable information in physical mail correspondence.
Ignore Unsolicited Notices: If you receive a domain expiration notice from an unfamiliar sender, treat it with skepticism. Legitimate renewal reminders will provide clear and transparent information, without resorting to deceptive tactics.
Enable Domain Privacy: Protect your personal information by enabling domain privacy services. This shields your details from being publicly accessible through Whois lookup databases, reducing the risk of exploitation by scammers.
