Domain Name Scams

There are a number of scams centred around domain name registrations and renewals. Because domain names are typically renewed annually or bi-annually it's easy for these to slip through the system.

• Offers to transfer your domain name to another registrar
  
  This is where a registrar offers to transfer your domain name registration to them for a "reduced" fee. Often this fee is double the standard rate but you are conned into thinking you are getting a better deal.
  
• Fraudulent renewal / expiration notices
  
  This is where a registrar send you a "renewal notice" or "expiration notice" which is actually an offer to transfer registrars. The prices are often inflated as above and many people assume it is a simple renewal and pay it without checking.
   
• Offers to register similar domain names
  
  You may have registered a domain name such as mycompany.com.au, a registrar may send you a renewal notice for a similar domain such as mycompany.net.au , mycompany.com or my-company.com.au. Again, it looks like a simple renewal so you pay it without checking.
  
• Domain squatting
  
  This is where somebody registers a popular domain name then offers it for sale to the highest bidder. This is less common now as most of the good names are already taken but in the early days of the internet this scam was very popular.
  
• Domain hi-jacking
  
  Once you've been conned into transferring your domain to one of these un-scrupulous registrars, it can be difficult to rescue your domain name back from them. If you don't renew with them they remove your web site and replace it with advertising of their choosing. All the web traffic you've spent years growing, is suddenly directed to promoting somebody else's products!

How to avoid being caught in these scams?

Always check domain name registration and renewal notices carefully. Check that the domain name is one you actually own or would like to own. Check that the registrar is the one you originally registered with or renewed with last time. Always use a reputable registrar (see list below) and lock your domain name so it cannot be easily transferred.

Here at Epsoft, we manage the domain name registration and renewals for most of our hosting clients. This means the renewal notices come to us instead of you and because we deal with these all the time we are familiar with all the scams. Also, as a reseller we get you the best rates and service.

If you do receive a suspicious domain renewal or expiration notice, contact us and we can check it out for you free of charge.

As a guide, here is a list of reputable domain name registrars and their pricing (correct as at 5th June 2006):

* Epsoft Computer Services only provide domain name registrations/renewals as part of a hosting package.