As a designer and developer who also provides WordPress website maintenance and support, I often hear from clients confused (or panicked) about suspicious emails, unexpected notices, or shady service offers. In the podcast, I covered the kinds of scams that are unfortunately all too common, including fake domain renewals, misleading emails from “search engine optimization” companies, and phishing attempts targeting business owners.
If you’re curious—or concerned—about the kinds of scams website owners are vulnerable to, I highly recommend listening to the full episode.
Scams I’ve Written About on the Blog
These aren’t just abstract examples—we’ve written about many of them on our blog because clients bring them up all the time. Some of the most common ones include:
- Domain Slamming: You get an urgent email that looks like a domain renewal notice—but it’s actually a trick to get you to transfer your domain.
- Fake Copyright Infringement Emails: These try to scare you into clicking a malicious link by claiming your site has stolen content.
- Google Business Profile Hijacking: Someone requests ownership of your Google Business Profile in an attempt to take control of your online presence.
- Third-Party Payout Scam (article coming soon): This one typically targets businesses that accept payments online. Scammers will overpay for a product or service and then ask you to “refund” the difference to a third party—before the original payment inevitably bounces or is reversed.
If you manage your website yourself, these scams can be overwhelming to keep track of. That’s why having someone you trust on your team is so valuable.
Looking for help managing your site? I’ve written a few posts that might help you figure out what kind of support you need:
- Why Do Websites Need Maintenance?
- Do I Need Someone to Manage My Website for Me?
- What is Website Maintenance?
And of course, if you ever receive a suspicious message or have a gut feeling something isn’t right, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to take a look and let you know if you’re being targeted by one of these schemes.
