There’s a website domain scam email going around.  It’s one of many.  Several of my clients recently forwarded an email from a company called Domain SEO Registration Corp.  The letter seems to imply that you website domain is expiring.

A closer reading indicates that this is a solicitation.  However, the way it’s written, along with the fact that you don’t manage your domain that often, is creating confusion.

One of the first ways you can check on your domain is by accessing the WhoIs database.  Type in your website URL and you should receive instant information about your website’s address (e.g. URL).

I did a quick Google search for the name of the offending company.  Click here to see the results of that search.  As you can see, it’s been going on for a while.

All companies should be protective of their website information.  A website domain scam email is an easy tool to get busy professionals to pay for something.  I’m not sure what else might happen by using their links, especially with your credit card information is involved.

If you’ve recently received one of these emails, it’s worth taking a minute to check on your domain.  Make sure your intellectual property is secure, then send the domain scam email to your junk folder.  Ideally, you’re email system will attempt to block further emails from this source.

These types of email scams have been around for years.  Unfortunately, the scammers seem to be getting better at what they do.  In this particular example, they include:

• Your specific website domain.
• Your mailing address.
• They toss in “SEO” because people recognize that generic term.
• The price is relatively low, which means you might not stop to think about it.
• And like most scams, they try to create a sense of urgency.

Here’s a redacted copy of an email one of my clients sent:

If you ever have questions about this type of scam email, reach out to your consultant, or someone who has been involved with your site.  It’s always better to have a couple of people look at it before you take action.