Warning: Fake Domain Deactivation Emails Circulating
Most phishing attempts are easy to spot—but not all. We recently saw a version targeting those who own personal or business domain names.
These messages claim your domain has been deactivated due to a billing issue. What makes them especially effective is timing: scammers can easily look up when a domain is set to expire and which company hosts it. A message that appears to come from your registrar, especially near your renewal date, can feel urgent and believable.
In the case below, the phishing email wasn’t even particularly sophisticated, yet it still caused concern. Fortunately, the recipient verified their domain status by logging directly into their DreamHost account and confirmed there was no issue.
Bottom line:
If you receive a domain-related email about payment or deactivation:
- Don’t click links in the message
- Go directly to your registrar’s website to verify your account
- Stay alert—scammers count on urgency to override caution
(Featured image by iStock.com/weerapatkiatdumrong)
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