SmallBusinessNewz

Domain registration scams abound, both on and offline. In the offline version, a domain owner receives a piece of mail, offering to "renew" a domain that may or may not be close to expiring.

Federal authorities found a Toronto firm that operated the domains ilscorp.net and dlscorp.net advertised this service via direct mail. However, the Federal Trade Commission said the company did not actually provide domain registration services or search optimization to those who paid its purported invoices.

The cost to victims since 2004 may have raked in millions for the accused scammers. Invoices sent out as part of the scheme claimed Data Business Solutions, aka Internet Listing Service and Domain Listing Service, made claims a federal judge in Chicago found to be false, and in violation of US law.

Small business owners should be wary of mail that comes from companies calling for renewals of domain names. Legitimate registrars provide online tools to manage one's domains, and that includes making a domain payment in a timely fashion.

When in doubt about an arriving message about a domain, a registrar should be happy to assist its customer with questions about it. The registrar will know for certain whether or not it has sent something to a domain owner, and has no desire to see a small business customer hit by a scam over a registration.