Don’t Fall for This Domain Name Scam!
As a business owner, your website is one of your most valuable assets, which is why it’s so frustrating to see scams targeting domain name registrations year after year. One of the most common scams we encounter is the “Website Domain Listing Service” solicitation—a misleading notice designed to trick you into paying for a service you don’t actually need.
We see this scam pop up at least 3-4 times a year, with nearly identical forms sent to different clients. If you’ve ever received something like this, you might have asked yourself:
“Do I need to pay this?”
The answer is almost always NO. Here’s why.
What Is a “Website Domain Listing Service”?
A “Website Domain Listing Service” is essentially an online directory that claims to list your website so people can find it. While this might sound important at first glance, these services offer minimal to zero value.
- They don’t register your domain name. That’s handled by your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, or another trusted provider).
- They don’t impact your website’s performance. Unlike legitimate services such as hosting or SEO, this listing service won’t improve your rankings, traffic, or visibility in any meaningful way.
Instead, these companies rely on confusing wording to make you think this notice is related to your domain name registration. It’s not.
Why This Scam Works
The form you receive might look official and time-sensitive, often using phrases like:
- “Annual Website Domain Listing”
- “Total for Annual Listing: $288.00”
- “Return By [specific date]”
These details can easily mislead you into thinking this is a bill to renew your domain registration. For many busy business owners, it feels easier to pay it than to investigate whether it’s legitimate—but that’s exactly what the scammers are counting on.
What Happens if You Pay?
If you pay the $288 (or whatever amount is listed), you’re essentially buying a worthless backlink on their directory site. This won’t help your business, and worse, you’re now on their radar as someone who might fall for similar scams in the future.
Protect Yourself: Key Things to Know About Domain Name Management
To avoid falling for scams like this, here’s what you need to know:
1. Understand who your domain registrar is.
Your domain registrar is the company you pay to keep your domain name (e.g., yourbusiness.com) active. Common registrars include GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains.
2. Know your renewal schedule.
Domain renewals don’t usually sneak up on you. If you’ve recently renewed for multiple years (as one of our clients did), you can confidently ignore notices like this.
3. Be wary of unsolicited notices.
Legitimate renewal reminders will come directly from your registrar or website professional—not from a third-party directory service you’ve never heard of.
4. When in doubt, ask a professional.
If you’re unsure about a notice or invoice, reach out to your trusted website professional for advice. Scammers count on confusion, but having an expert on your side makes it much harder for them to succeed.
What to Do if You Receive a Notice Like This
If you get one of these forms in the mail (or by email), here’s what to do:
1. Verify your domain registration status.
Log in to your domain registrar account directly to confirm your renewal date.
2. Double-check the sender.
Look closely at the company name and email address. If it’s not from your registrar, it’s likely a scam.
3. Trash it.
Notices like this don’t require any action. Throw them away, and don’t give them another thought.
An Example from a Client
One of our clients recently reached out after receiving a notice that looked very similar to this.
They asked:
“Didn’t we just renew our registration for several years?”
The answer was YES—they had already renewed through their trusted registrar. By reaching out to us for confirmation, they avoided wasting $288 on an unnecessary service.
This is a perfect example of why it’s so important to have a trusted professional you can call on when something feels off.
Final Thoughts
Running a business means keeping track of a lot of moving parts, and scammers like this take advantage of how busy we all are. But with a little knowledge and a trusted partner, you can confidently spot and avoid these traps.
If you ever receive a suspicious notice about your domain or website, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help you protect your website and your business from unnecessary costs and scams.