Oct 25 2006
Do You Know Who Your Domain Register Is?
If you have a web site, your domain name is a company asset. It is your responsibility to know:
- WHO is the registrar (GoDaddy, Network Solutions, Register, etc.)
- HOW to access your online account to control your domain name.
- WHEN your domain name expires.
- AND you are required to update your WHOIS records every year to keep your contact information current.
Call your Webmaster and ask for a copy of this information to keep in your files.
Phishing schemes can cost you money and the ownership of your domain. About 9 months before your domain is actually up for renewal companies with official sounding names - but not your domain registrar - may send you an invoice to renew your domain name. If you receive one of these bills and know it isn’t your registrar just shred the invoice.
If you accidentally pay it, they will transfer your domain name to their registration system and typically charge you an overly inflated rate. In the worse case scenario they could get ownership of your domain name. The moral of the story is that you should know WHO your registrar is and when the bill is due so you don’t fall prey to phishing schemes related to your domain name.