Domain name scams: how to detect and avoid them
Received a suspicious email asking you to register your domain name in China? How to detect domain name scams and what to do.
Following on from IP filing scams, here is another equally common fraud: the domain name scam. This scheme encourages you to register domain names under multiple national extensions, typically in Asia or China, at an inflated price.
The best response is to delete the email immediately and not reply.
The scam is simple but effective, and plays on the recipient’s fear. You receive an email in passable English informing you that a third party intends to register your domain name under an Asian extension. The sender claims to be checking whether this third party is authorised to do so.
If you reply, you will be contacted by someone purporting to work for the third party. The aim is to persuade you to purchase the domain names at a price far above market rate. There is no guarantee that someone who followed the scam through would actually obtain the domain names.
If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the email, run a search on the sender and their company. In practice, it is highly unlikely that such an email is genuine. The best course of action is not to reply and to delete it immediately.
If you genuinely wish to register domain names in these country extensions because you plan to operate there, I recommend doing so through the official body responsible for domain registration in the relevant country, or through a recognised registrar. The ICANN website can help you identify the appropriate body. For broader protection of your trademarks and domain names, see the intellectual property services page.
The domain name scam typically targets businesses that have recently filed a trademark or launched a product. The best approach: never reply, never pay, and use an official registrar if you need additional extensions. If you have concerns about your trademark protection, book a call.
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