If you have your own website and domain name, steer clear of domain renewal scams.  Prior to when it comes time to renew your domain name, your domain registrar usually begins notifying you around 90 – 60 days before.  But, you could also get scam artists trying to fake you into thinking they are the ones you need to renew with.

First of all, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE NAME OF YOUR DOMAIN REGISTRAR!  Most commonly, GoDaddy or DirectNic.

Secondly, ONLY RESPOND TO YOUR DOMAIN REGISTRAR!

Third, READ WHAT YOU ARE RESPONDING TO!

If you don’t understand what you are reading, then contact a web professional.  These scams are made to confuse you into thinking they have control over you.

Again, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE NAME OF YOUR DOMAIN REGISTRAR!  If you don’t, go back through prior emails (maybe a year ago when you purchased or renewed), or check your credit card statement from about a year prior.  If somebody else registered and/or created your website, contact them.

To the right is the scam I recently received (click the image to see full size version).

It is trying to trick you into thinking that you will not be found in the search engines if you do not comply.  IT IS BULLSHIT!

I will say it again, if you have your own website, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE NAME OF YOUR DOMAIN REGISTRAR!