Warning about the fake domain scam!

In a world where a company's online presence is crucial to its success, fraudsters have developed a new scam (“fake domains”) to deceive unsuspecting website operators. Many have recently received emails from a supposed company called “DNS EU”. These emails suggest that a “registration request” has been received for a domain very similar to your own. Recipients are pressured into purchasing this similar domain for €297.50 to supposedly protect their online presence and discoverability. But be careful: this offer is a clear attempt at fraud.

The “fake domain” scam in detail

The fraudulent letter claims that a “third party” is attempting to register a domain that is only slightly different from their own by simply changing the top-level domain (such as .at, .net, .com, etc.). Recipients are offered the right of first refusal at an inflated price, supposedly to reduce the risk that someone else will acquire the similar domain and thus negatively impact their own business.

Identification features and protective measures

A thorough check quickly reveals that “DNS EU” is not a legitimate company. A clear warning sign is the lack of essential information such as an imprint on their website http://dnseu.org . To protect yourself from such fraud attempts with fake domains, if you are unsure about the authenticity of such emails, it is recommended to look for warnings on the Internet or report the email to the Internet Watchlist for checking. You should also be careful with links and attachments from unknown senders and consider registering your domain under different top-level domains to prevent misuse.

What to do if you have already paid?

If you have already accepted the fraudulent offer, there are still ways to react: You should contact your bank immediately to try to reverse the payment. In addition, it is advisable to file a police report in order to take legal action against the fraudsters.

Questions and answers about fraud prevention:

Question 1: How do I recognize fraudulent fake domain offers?
Answer 1: Be aware of missing company information, unusually high prices, pressure, and check credibility through internet research.

Question 2: What should I do if I received a suspicious email?
Answer 2: Ignore offers from such emails, do not click on links/attachments and report the email to relevant monitoring bodies such as Watchlist Internet.

Question 3: Is there any way I can protect my domain?
Answer 3: Yes, by registering your domain under different top-level domains to prevent abuse from similar domains.

Question 4: What are the first steps if I have fallen for a scam?
Answer 4: Contact your bank to stop the payment and file a police report.

Question 5: How can I ensure my online business is protected?
Answer 5: Stay informed about common fraud schemes, use website security services, and regularly monitor your online presence.

Conclusion

The increasing sophistication of online scams requires website operators to be highly vigilant. The “DNS EU” fake domain scam is just one example of how criminals try to capitalize on the ignorance and carelessness of Internet users. However, through education, preventive measures and the willingness to act quickly if suspected, many of these fraud attempts can be successfully averted. It is crucial that everyone operating online is aware of the risks and how to protect themselves and their business.

To stay up to date on the latest scams and how to protect yourself from them, we recommend signing up for the Mimikama newsletter under Newsletter and attending our online lectures and workshops, which you can find Online Lecture

Source: watchlist-internet

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