Receiving an official-looking letter that resembles an invoice for a service you think you’ve paid for can be alarming. This article explores how to identify and avoid domain scams, offering one crucial tip to prevent falling victim to these schemes.
Identifying Domain Scams
If you’ve received an official-looking letter that resembles an invoice, you might wonder if you need to pay it. Rest assured, you do not need to pay for it. You are not required to pay for it, you won’t be sent to collections, and your website ranking will not be affected. So, what is this Domain Networks invoice that you are receiving?
What Is a Domain Networks Invoice?
This letter appears to be an official invoice, complete with details about what you supposedly owe and what services it provides. However, it’s actually a solicitation for you to spend money with them to get listed on a website that offers little value. Save your money—dispose of the letter properly, whether by shredding or recycling it.
Checking the Credibility of the Sender
Always verify the legitimacy of such solicitations by checking their ratings on platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. For instance, the scam in question has an F rating with the BBB and a 1.3 out of 5 stars rating on Trustpilot. These poor ratings indicate that you
Real-Life Example: A Client’s Experience
A client recently inquired about a similar letter, unsure if it was something we had set up for them or if they needed to pay it. I assured them that it’s a scam that has been circulating for years. Although the name may change, the scam remains the same. Interestingly, I even received one of these letters for our official website, shieldbar.com, recently.
Why Did We Receive This Scam Letter?
Our receipt of the letter was due to the process of changing our domain registrar. During this process, we had to remove privacy protection from the domain, unlock it, obtain authorization codes, and proceed with the transfer. During this week-long period when our domain was not under privacy protection, scammers scraped the public database and obtained our contact information.
Preventing Domain Scams
Enable Domain Privacy Protection
The most effective way to prevent receiving these scam letters is to ensure that your domain name registrar—whether it’s GoDaddy, Network Solutions, or any other—has basic privacy protection enabled. Previously, this feature was often paid, but many registrars now include it for free, while offering full domain protection as an upsell.
The Benefits of Privacy Protection
Privacy protection ensures that a proxy address from the domain registrar is listed in the public database instead of your personal information. This prevents scammers from obtaining your contact details. Even if you use a P.O. box and are less concerned, it’s still prudent to avoid having your home address publicly available.
In summary, Domain Networks scam letters are indeed fraudulent. Dispose of them properly and do not worry about making any payments. Ensure you have privacy protection enabled on your domain name to safeguard your personal information. For more tips on marketing and protecting your business, subscribe to our blog and stay updated with the latest insights. If you have any questions about domains or websites and how to utilize them for your business, please let us know. Your inquiries help guide our future content!