Fake Domain Renewal Notices

Scam of the Week: Fake Domain Renewal Notices

A business’s online presence is vital, making domain renewals a crucial task. Cybercriminals exploit this by sending fraudulent renewal notices to trick companies into paying for fake services or stealing login credentials.

How the Scam Works Businesses receive emails or letters stating their domain is about to expire and must be renewed immediately. These messages often include urgent language and fraudulent payment links. If the business owner or IT team follows through, they either lose money or compromise their login credentials to scammers. In some cases, scammers may even try to hijack the domain and take control of the website.

How to Protect Your Business

• Verify renewal notices by logging into your official domain registrar account. If you receive an unexpected renewal notice, check your account directly rather than clicking links in an email.

• Avoid clicking on renewal links from unsolicited emails. Instead, manually type the registrar’s website address in your browser to access your account.

• Set calendar reminders for legitimate domain renewal dates and keep records of your registrar information. This prevents last-minute panic and reduces the chances of falling for scams.

• Enable domain lock features to prevent unauthorized transfers, ensuring your website remains under your control.

• Use WHOIS privacy protection to reduce the visibility of your domain registration details, making it harder for scammers to target you.