Beware of Snail Mail Scammers

The problem is that most of time this is a scam. The statement may claim to be a registration for your domain name, ensure that your website remains active or an annual website domain listing on an internet directory. However a quick internet search of the company name could reveal the truth.

What Can You Do?

There are several things to check if you receive a notice like this.

Save all domain statements. Do you remember signing up with this company? Usually domain registration renewals will come via emails. When you registered your domain, you received an email. If you save these emails, you can easily review which company your domain is registered with.

Can you contact them?

While looking over the statement, is there a phone number? Most of these scam letters do not have a phone number listed. They do not want it to be easy to contact them. But if there is a phone on the document, call them and investigate. Don’t just write a check because it looks legit.

Ask Google. Does this company have a website? With a quick search of the internet, most of these scams can be easily found and there is usually a lot of documentation that will help you determine the validity of the source.

Your domain renewal is predictable. If you registered your domain with a reputable company like Tommy House Studios, GoDaddy or NameCheap to name a few, you will receive an invoice directly from that company and it will usually come via email. The normal charge for a domain renewal is $15-$20 a year. You will also receive the renewal notice at the same time each year. If you purchased the domain in December, you should expect to receive the renewal notice around November of the following year.

This is not an invoice. Most of these scams say on the document that this is not a bill or invoice. What they are sending out is a solicitation. Not a bill. They are phishing for business. All they want is your money. And you receive nothing for your money. This is a fake website listing on their nothing website.

Takeaway

Many accounts payable departments receive documentation like this and pay it thinking it is a service that they have or listing of their business that they must have. Instead they should hire a creative marketing firm like Tommy House Studios for your marketing and to submit your website to search engines and internet directories to help build trust with the search engines. Plus, we monitor the results. Tommy House Studios is here for you. THS offers services in website design, social media management, SEO and more. We are dedicated to you, the customer, with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. Let Tommy House Studios help your small business with our online marketing services in Montgomery, AL and around the country. You can contact us to discuss your specific needs and to receive a free quote. Call us at 877-246-1315 or email at info@tommyhouse.com and let us help your business.