Beware of Domain Registration Scams 

One of the most fun parts of creating a website is choosing a website name and URL. However, when you register for a domain, some of your information becomes public, making you more vulnerable to scams. Unfortunately, domain registration scams are becoming increasingly common. Here’s what you should know about domain registration scams and how to avoid becoming a victim—

What Is a Domain Registration Scam?

A domain registration scam is a scam wherein the scammer creates a fake invoice for the domain registration fee and sends it to the individual/business that registered the website. Scammers do this by scraping data from the internet that provides your business’s website domain name, your name, and your address. Then, the scammer will use this information to send you a fake invoice, hoping that you’ll pay. 

How to Catch a Domain Registration Scam

It can be easy to fall victim to a domain registration scam, especially if you don’t remember with which website you originally created your domain registration name. Here are some tips for catching a domain registration scam and protecting yourself—

• Read carefully. The first thing to do is read the notice that you receive very carefully. Typically, a scam will say something like, “Domain name expiration notice,” or “Website listing service.” Note that the only real terms related to this are website hosting and domain registration. 
• Pay attention to details. Another thing to do when reading closely is to pay attention to the details. Does the notice have a business phone number or other contact information on it? If you search for the company online, what comes up? Is the company registered with the Better Business Bureau? If you can’t find the company online and there’s no contact information, chances are you’re being scammed.
• Know your mandatory costs. Finally, one way to avoid being a victim of a scam is simply to know how much your domain registration costs and when it’s up for renewal. By knowing your costs, you’ll be able to avoid falling prey to someone asking you for more money. 

Get Help from a Professional

In addition to the above tips, another piece of advice for avoiding domain registration scams is to work with a website design and development professional who can register your website and take care of all of the details on your behalf. At NUVEW, we have years of experience building websites for our customers and would be happy to talk with you about options today. Reach out to us now online or by phone to learn more.