If you have a website, then you will most certainly receive a (domain name scams) letter in the mail from a company that is named something like, “Internet Domain Name Services.” On the top left, they will have a nice logo. On the top right it will say, “Domain Name Expiration Notice.” Below that will be a website link.
The letter will give you a “friendly” warning that your domain is about to expire in the next few days with your domain printed in bold, along with a date that you must reply by, or you will lose your domain.
Next, there will be two paragraphs on the general idea of why you need to renew your domain name, along with some content on how this letter isn’t a bill, but rather just giving you a choice to renew the domain.
In the middle of the letter, most likely in red, will be three choices to renew. It could be one year, two years, or five years with special prices.
They may also list additional domains with your company name in order to give you more choices. These will come at a cost of course, but usually they show them to prove they know everything about your company and your website.
In the bottom section of the letter is a key word that alerts you to the scam. See if you can pick it out of this sentence.
“Transfer and renew your domain name online at www.idns.ac 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or call our Customer Service Department, toll free, to transfer and review your domain name today!”
The key word was mentioned twice. It’s, “Transfer.” You are not updating your domain, or renewing it, but rather transferring it to their company.
At the very bottom, it gives you the option to mail in your payment with your credit card information. Or you can give your credit card over the phone, or on their website.
Beware of domain name scam letters!
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the domain name governing body. They made changes to its policy for transferring domains between registrars and also introduced a single protective measure that can help prevent unauthorized transfers called “Domain Locking.”
However, if you sign the scam letter that arrives in the mail, you can be obligated to that new domain company. Please look out for this!
Brand Eleven Eleven is constantly updating websites to protect from viruses and aware of the thousands of scams that can destroy a business with letters such as these. If you have any questions, please contact us.