What Is Domain Slamming?…Don’t Fall Victim

Fake Domain Name Renewal Scams Still Alive & Well in 2024

We’re still hearing from clients regularly who have been hit with a Domain Slamming scheme (aka fake domain renewal) recently. When we wrote this article many, many years ago, the bulk of the Domain Scams arrived via regular mail. Now they arrive via email, contact forms on websites, and even social media.

What Is Domain Slamming (aka Fake Domain Renewal Scam)?

Domain Slamming Is the act of tricking someone into transferring their domain registration from their existing registrar to a new registrar, and charging inflated registration fees as part of the process.

Here’s what you need to know to avoid falling victim to this scam.

What a Fake Domain Name Renewal Looks Like

An official-looking letter or email arrives stating that your domain name is about to expire (see examples further down on the page). At first glance, it looks legit enough and the notice is emphatic about how "Urgent" the matter is. You're not sure when your domain expires, so you pay the requested fee, fill out the form or paperwork and go about your business.

By completing this transaction, unknowingly, you have transferred the registration of your domain to an unscrupulous registrar and you’ve become the victim of “Domain Slamming.”

When you pay the slammer, you’ve transferred your domain to them and you are now their customer. Depending on your configuration, this can cause your website or email to go offline. In the worst case scenario, you can lose ownership of your domain. You’ve also probably paid more than your standard domain renewal.

Learn more about these other common scams:

• Google Business Profile Ownership Request
• USPS Delivery Text Scam
• Image Copyright Infringement Scam

How Domain Slamming Works

How to Identify a Scam Domain Renewal

Beware the "Urgent Renewal Notice"

Scam Domain Registrations use Scary Language Like "Urgent" and "Failure to Complete."

The slammer makes it appear that they are your existing registrar (the company that registered your domain) and that they are routinely asking you to renew your domain. Sometimes, their notices contain warnings in big, bold print, such as, “URGENT RENEWAL NOTICE,” or, “YOUR DOMAIN IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.”

Look for these Tell-Tale Words

Scam domain name renewals will almost always include language that "technically" identifies the notification as a solicitation. Typically the word "solicitation" or "offer" is somewhere in the communication which most likely protects them from legal action.

Example:

Don't Be Fooled!

Ignore any correspondence from a registrar unless you know for certain that it is the company with whom you originally registered your domain. Domain Slammers make it look like they are your registrar and they also make it appear as if they are giving you a great deal to renew your domain. Don’t fall for it. (See more examples of domain registration scams below » )

Renew Your Domain Name Legitimately

If you do not know who your current registrar is, or if you do not know your domain expiration date, look it up. As domain slammers have proven, it’s easy! Search the WhoIs database for your domain name and make note of your registrar and your expiration date.

You may receive renewal/expiration notices at 90, 60 and 30 days out from your actual registrar letting you know about the upcoming renewal or expiration.

If you are a SangFroid Web hosting client, we most likely renew your domain for you and send you an annual invoice.  If you are not our client (or if you are our client but you login and manage your own accounts) you should simply log in to your domain registrar and renew prior to your domain expiration date.

Recommendations to Help Prevent Domain Slamming

• Extend your domain registration for many years.   Renew your domain for 5 or even 10 years.  You'll have peace of mind knowing that your domain is secure and paid-for.
• Set up auto-renewal.  If you do not want to renew for many years, at least sign up for domain name auto-renewal.  Your name will never lapse (just be sure to keep your payment info up to date), and you can ignore all renewal solicitations. One less thing to worry about!
• Lock your domain. Make sure your domain name is locked at your current registrar which can help prevent unauthorized transfers.

What to Do if You Think You Fell for a Domain Renewal Scam

The 2 main things you want to do is to 1) stop the domain name transfer from completing and 2) get your money back.

1. Stop the Domain Name Transfer if Possible

Contact your domain registrar where you registered your domain name and explain what happened and make sure your domain is locked. Ask if they have any other internal processes that you should put in place to prevent the domain from being transferred away to a different registrar. Transferring a domain typically requires a couple of verification steps along the way, so hopefully since you caught it so soon, you can avoid any issues with your site going down, etc.

2. Try to Get Your Money Back

Take steps to get your money back from the company that solicited the renewal, and if that is not possible, you can consider calling your credit card company if you cannot get a direct refund.

These letters and emails are typically offered by actual domain registrars, so I do think it is possible to get a refund if you can get in touch with them. The practice is not technically illegal so you are likely dealing with an actual 'legit' company, but It's a super-shady marketing technique.

If you believe you have been the victim of domain slamming, or if you have any doubt as to whether a domain renewal notice is legitimate, call or email us. We’ll help you sort it out.