European registrars EuroDNS and Blacknight Solutions have hit out at domain name renewal scams warning registrants to be vigilant when receiving what appear to be renewal notices as they can turn out to be an expensive scam.
Renewal notices generally come from registrars by email, but an increasing number of unscrupulous scammers are sending letters and emails requesting domain name renewal notices.
“When the time comes to renew a domain name, registrants receive renewal notices via email from their registrar,” advises Blacknight Solutions.
“However, an overwhelming number of domain registrants are receiving renewal requests via postal mail and email from entities with which they do not have domain names registered. These seemingly legitimate third party renewal requests come from companies previously unheard of and require credit card or bank account information.”
The domain renewal scams follow similar patterns say Blacknight. This is along the lines of “a registrant receives an email or physical letter notifying that they owe a specified amount for the renewal of domain names. The communiqué may name specific registered domains or simply refer to ‘your domain’ and immediate payment is always requested. The easiest way to spot this scam is that the email or letter will not be from the registrar with which you keep the domains. These scams often ensnare ‘lower tech’ users and are aimed at obtaining credit card or bank account information.”
“It is important registrants are vigilant when renewing their domain names,” warns Xavier Buck, CEO of EuroDNS. “We strongly recommend to our registrants they check they are renewing their existing domains with their registrar, and EuroDNS asks registrants to contact us if they are unsure.”
“We advise registrants to check domain renewals carefully to ensure it is the correct registrar and email address. Like any invoice, check the supplier and that it is one you have previously dealt with.”
It is important to note that the letter or email received may not even name your domain name or be for a domain name that is similar to your existing domain name but with a different suffix – instead of .COM, for example, it might be for .NET.
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