Domain Renewal Emails Beware the “Slammers”

Domain renewal emails have become commonly used by scammers and are known as “Domain Slamming’. This is a scam whereby an unscrupulous, offending, domain name registrar, attempts to trick domain owners, into switching from their existing registrar to their own. They operate under the pretence that the customer is simply renewing their domain subscription to their existing registrar, or saving money by using them.

Commonly, these emails start with wording such as “as a courtesy to domain name holders we are sending you this reminder that your domain name is up for renewal”. This information is accessible by running a domain name through one of the “whois” domain checking sites. By framing the opening of the email in this manner, they aim to suggest that they are acting on behalf of your current registrar.

They then go on to suggest that you need to act now to save money on renewal, quoting a variety of options. The usual list suggests a 1 year, 2 year, 5 year, 10 year or a recommended lifetime renewal fee of JUST … (a fee in hundreds and usually in dollars).

In order that they stay JUST within the law, they will add lines like “you are under no obligation to pay these amounts unless you agree to” followed by another misleading comment like “if you do not renew your domain, your customers will not be able to find you on the Web”.

So what should you do when faced with an email like this? The answer is very simple, delete it immediately and whatever you do, don’t part with any money. Fortunately, it is now common practice for legitimate registrars to lock domains, so they can only be transferred after a request for unlocking is made. This is a safeguard that largely prevents the scammer from completing the process. However, it will not get your money back if you have been careless enough to pay anything out.

Attention: Important, DOMAIN SERVICE

Domain Name: (Name removed but owned and registered by GreenSiteDesign)

Call: 1-863-231-0288

ATT: Domain Owner STEPHEN GREEN

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT

ADDRESS REMOVED

(My Email address was here and is removed)

(My address was here and is removed) UNITED KINGDOM WWW.REMOVEDDOMAIN

Requested Reply Before

March 26, 2018

(Don’t hold your breath!)

PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION

Attn: Domain Owner (MY NAME)

As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration.

This letter is to inform you that it’s time to send in your registration and save (this is a big fat lie, I would not only not save anything by registering with them, it would cost me a great deal more than I currently pay which is £20 per two year period)..

Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this proposal making it difficult for your customers to locate you on the web. (Partially true, but since my existing genuine registrar will auto-renew for me, I need do nothing and what’s this “Search Engine Registration” nonsense? You guessed it… a Domain Name does not require Search Engine re-registration)

Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine subscription includes domain name search engine submission. (If your site has been around for awhile, it will almost certainly not require Search Engine submission, if in doubt use Google and Bing and type in the name of your business to see if your site appears. In the unlikely event that it doesn’t, just submit it yourself… it isn’t difficult)

You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated below unless you accept this proposal. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine registration so your customers can locate you on the web. (Gee thanks pal… now… as a courtesy, you can do one!

This Notice for:DOMAIN WITHELD will be terminated on March 26, 2018 Act today!

[ ] 1 year 26/03/2018 – 26/03/2019 $75.00 (But I pay £10 a year, so where’s this money I am going to save?)

[ ] 2 year 26/03/2018 – 26/03/2020 $119.00 (No saving here either…)

[ ] 5 year 26/03/2018 – 26/03/2023 $199.00 (Nor here…)

[ ] 10 year -Most Recommended- 26/03/2018 – 26/03/2028 $295.00 (Nope… still too much…)

[ ] Lifetime (NEW!) Limited time proposal – Great value! Lifetime $499.00 (How long do you think they will be around? Yup! I am inclined to agree.)

Payment by Credit Card or Check

Call our New York main office: (863)231-0288

——————————————————————————————-

By accepting this proposal, you agree not to hold DS liable for any part. Note that THIS IS NOT A BILL. This is a solicitation. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated unless you accept this proposal. The information in this letter contains confidential and/or legally privileged information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) named above. There is no pre-existing relationship between DS and the domain mentioned above. This notice is not in any part associated with a continuation of services for domain registration. Search engine submission is an optional service that you can use as a part of your website optimization and alone may not increase the traffic to your site. If you do not wish to receive further updates from DS reply with Remove to unsubscribe. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this letter is strictly p

rohibited.

(The odd spacing was theirs, in their email and since I am the intended recipient no p

rohibition)