Domain Expiration Postcards: Beware of Scams and Protect Your Website

Your domain name is the digital address for your business—it’s where your website lives and where your email is routed. Because it’s so important, keeping your domain registration current is critical to avoid unexpected downtime.

Have you ever received a postcard in the mail warning that your domain is about to expire and urging you to renew immediately? Be cautious—these postcards are often scams sent by third parties trying to trick you into paying unnecessary fees or transferring your domain.

Your domain registrar (the company where you registered your domain) will contact you via email—never by postal mail—about upcoming renewals. These emails will come from the registrar’s official address, and usually, they’ll give you plenty of time to renew at the regular rate.

• Keep your registrar login information safe and secure.
• Set your domain to auto-renew if possible, so you never miss a payment.
• Only respond to emails or messages from your official registrar.
• Ignore or report suspicious postcards or emails asking for urgent renewal outside your registrar.

Losing control of your domain can lead to your website going offline and your business email stopping—costly problems you definitely want to avoid.