Domain Service Notice Scam e-mail 8

I decided to do this article today in case any readers who owns their own website receive an email regarding: domain service notice that’s suspicious, this e-mail is a scam meant to defraud you of your money. The funny thing is that many users may not notice this domain service notice scam as it looks so legit and may fall victim. Remember that when you receive an email especially one soliciting that you pay money regarding some service or something about to expire regarding your domain make sure to check the source without clicking on any links and read the wording carefully and remain calm, a simple chat or phone call to your hosting provider can resolve such situations quickly and prevent you from being scammed.

Domain Service Notice Scam

So I was actually enjoying a great Saturday afternoon when I saw this email in my inbox, I have snapped a picture and removed some of the more personal details:

As you can see this Domain service notice looks and sounds legit but it’s actually a scam, I am sure a lot of people will fall victim if they are not careful the main part of the email reads and yours might look a bit different but the wording should be the same or similar:

Attn: (Your Name)
As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration. This letter is to inform you that it’s time to send in your registration.
Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your customers to locate you on the web.
Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine registration includes domain name search engine submission. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine listing so your customers can locate you on the web.

(Time stamp with expiration in a day or two)

How did I know this was a Scam?

The things that you should pay attention to realize it’s a Scam is:

1. The From field does not display your Hosting or Domain name providers usual email address.

2. The heading says this is your final Notice…How can that be I am sure you did not miss such an important first email and no hosting provider will simply give a notice at the last-minute.

3. They give a two-day window or one day to pay-really suspicious.

4. May result in cancellation.. they are using scare tactics to make you make brash decisions and make a mistake.

5. Domain name search engine registration-This is rubbish, search engines require no registration or any charge to index your content.

6. Finally they reinforce and add a hook at the end that you should not discard this email in case you had doubts.

7. Requested payment by credit card or debit card to some weird domain which you should not click on.

8. My domain does not expire anywhere near the time surrounding this e-mail or do I have any other fees to pay but the one time yearly fee or monthly depending on how you decide to pay with your real host. Plus I usually have to login to my host billing domain and not the weird one being presented in the e-mail.

For me those red flags above stood out at me and don’t be fooled by the fact that they know your email ,domain name and name as these things are public record especially if your registered your domain and the info is public knowledge if you know where to look. They are playing on the fact that a lot of hard work goes into a website and that you will most likely not think and pay quickly without thinking not to lose your handwork.

How did I confirm 100% that this was a Scam?

To confirm it was a total rip off I of course contacted my Hosting/domain provider and asked them about the email including stating that I think its a scam and they confirmed it as they indicated that they have sent out no such email. Well I was not really surprised but this was simply icing on the cake for me. I also wanted to report it so that they were aware it was happening and finally I did this article to give you guys a heads up as I would not want anyone to fall for this.

Remember guys in all cases once a E-mail asks for cash up front and tries to send you to some shady links be aware that if its seems like a scam and things don’t add up its most likely one. Your host will only contact you through their regular email and for billing they will use their regular billing systems that you should be familiar with, until next time stay safe and share your experience with this or other such scams below in the comments, your input would be greatly appreciated and do spread the word so others can be aware as well of this scam.