Fake Domain Renewal Emails: A Costly Scam to Watch Out For

Domain renewal scams are on the rise, and they’re getting harder to spot. Recently, we encountered a convincing email designed to trick businesses into paying for a fake “domain renewal notification service.”

At first glance, the email looks legitimate. It uses professional formatting, urgent language, and familiar payment options. But a closer look reveals several red flags.

How the Scam Works

The email claims:

• Your domain’s “renewal notification service” is about to expire

• Immediate payment is required to avoid service disruption

• A convenient “View Invoice” button is provided

In reality:

• There is no legitimate service being renewed

• The sender is not your domain registrar

• Clicking the link lead to a page which had broken links

  
  

The scammers rely on urgency and confusion to push recipients into paying quickly without verifying the source.

Red Flags to Watch For

🚩 Unfamiliar sender: Even if the email looks professional, the company name may not match your actual registrar.

🚩 Vague service descriptions: “Domain renewal notification service” is intentionally unclear.

🚩 Pressure tactics: Threats like “service deactivation” are designed to rush you.

🚩 Invoice links instead of account login: Legitimate registrars usually ask you to log in directly to your account, not pay from an email link.

How to Protect Your Business

✔ Check your domain renewal status directly with your registrar

✔ Never click invoice links in unsolicited emails

✔ Train staff to flag and report suspicious billing emails

✔ When in doubt, contact support@dash.ie