Domain Slamming in Your Mailbox?

Like clockwork, the domain scammers are at it again.  Check out the scam letter we received last year from a company called Internet Domain Name Services. We got a new one today for one of our clients. When business owners receive these letters they look like an "official" renewal for their domain. What they really are can be as painful as a "Ram Jam" off of the top rope! 

This tricky piece of mail is part of a process called "Domain Slamming". While it might sound like a move you would see in a wrestling match, domain slamming is an online scam. In this particular online scam, the scammer tries to trick domain owners into switching from their existing registrar, under the misconception that the customer is simply renewing their subscription.

Unscrupulous companies have been using this deceptive tactic for several years now, causing many people to inadvertently transfer their domain to a new service, sometimes having to pay higher annual fees per domain for the transfer.

If you take a moment to read the letter carefully and examine the sections highlighted in red - you will see:

• The notice is an offer to switch registrars and not an official renewal notice.
• The domain slammer is trying to trick unsuspecting business owners into paying 4x the market rate for domain name renewal services.
• While they have a New Jersey address for their business, notice that their web address is www.idns.ae — .ae is a domain name system for the United Arab Emirates.

When it concerns something as important as your domain name, make sure you carefully read anything that is mailed or emailed to you. Most renewal notices are sent via email with the company website address clearly displayed on the notice.

First, know where your domain is registered. If you’re not sure, sites like whois.com have lookup tools to show you lots of important information about your domain registry.

Before you fill out a form and give up your credit card number, do a little homework to protect yourself and your domain. If you have any questions about domain slamming, online marketing,  or how to improve your website, contact SOLID. We’re always happy to hear from you!