Tag: website basics

Beware of hocus emails to renew your domain

Your Domain Name

Your domain name is the address people type into their web browser to find you website and there are many companies out there that will want to host your website for you but be aware you could break your entire site by just changing your hosting provider.

Scam Email

I recently received an email telling me that one of my domains was about to expire and that I needed to act quickly or my clients would not be able to find my website any more.

scam domain email

scam domain email

How to tell if it is a scam?

Firstly I know who my hosting provider is, me 🙂 . Actually I use a tier 1 provider in the US but I do host websites for many customers. So know your hosting provider!

So if you ever get an email about your web hosting or domain name from anyone other than your provider, check with your provider.

Secondly I know when my domain name is due to expire, March 2016, this email claims that it expires on the 27th of December this year. So it is important to know when your domain name is due to expire!

Thirdly like with most emails that are suspicious I goggled it 🙂 . You gotta love Google. I found www.scam.com had a very interesting article, not much of a surprise there. So always remember if in doubt Google it!

Scam.com says

  1. The perp makes it look like you are renewing your domain name, but in reality, and through some seriously twisted use of English language (that leaves one’s head swimming), you are signing up for one year of search-engine optimization. Most people would not understand this, and the perp wants it that way.

Always remember just because someone tells you that you need to take action immediately doesn’t mean you do.

These guys are also trying to charge me considerably more than I pay or charge my clients. Most of my domain names that I host for clients come included in their package if they want me to set up a domain outside of a normal package I charge $40 per year and that includes 1 free email hosted for the year… Know how much you get charged!

If I had clicked on this offer I would have been locked into 12 months of SEO Services thinking that I had renewed my domain.

Please be aware, do not get ripped off by people just trying to get your money, make sure you know:

  • Who your provider is!
  • When your domain is due to expire!
  • About how much you should be paying!
  • and how to check if an email is a scam!
  • Read it carefully if you don’t understand check with your provider!