How to avoid domain scams and mishaps

They are at it again, trying (and succeeding!) to get money out of businesses
without sufficient controls on expenditure by asking them to renew domain names - protect yourself from domain registration and transfer scams with our top tips:

• Be suspicious of any hard copy invoice relating to domain names; most reputable domain name registrars never send invoices by mail.
• Never respond directly to an email that requests you to renew domains. If you know the where the domains are registered, type the registrar's URL
  directly into your browser and communicate directly with them through the email address, forms or login on the site.
• If you are in doubt, phone your domain registrar and check the renewal notice is valid.
• Make a diary note to renew your domain names every year 4 months in
  advance so you don't accidentally let them lapse. Most registrars start sending renewal notices 90 days in advance so you can renew before that and avoid any email reminders and ensuing confusion.

More information on recent domain scams

Other points to watch with domains

• Make sure you are listed as the registrant and the admin contact
• If your website or hosting provider is contracted to renew the domain for you, check yourself that this has been done
• Never let your domain lapse
• Try to use a secondary email as the admin contact for your domain not an email at that domain
• If your domain lapses then you must renew within 30 days or risk losing it to domain pirates
• Be careful when registering domains for longer periods - make sure you know when they need to be renewed and keep the email address used current