What’s the scam with Domain Networks in Hendersonville, NC?
Are you suspicious of the Domain Networks bill you received in the mail?
Many people want to know:
Why am I getting a bill from Domain Networks? Do I have to pay $289?
Is it for domain renewal or something else?
What is Domain Networks, or should I say Who is Domain Networks?
Is Domain Networks s scam or legitimate service?
How did Domain Networks get my personal information?
Other people pay it and forget about it. Why?
Let’s start with why people think the domainnetworks.com bill is a scam.
No doubt there are some red flags to question if this legitimate or a scam.
The “invoice” you received in the postal mail from a company called Domain Networks looks “official”. It looks like a bill or invoice.
The following items may make you question if it is a legit invoice and if you are already a customer of this company.
- Domain Networks sounds like an official company related to domain registration.
- It looks like if you don’t pay $289 by a certain date services will expire.
- They have your name, address, and domain name that you own. It also includes your domain registrar and your name servers (NS1, NS2)
- It implies that you are already a customer by stating “We Appreciate Your Business”
- It says the subscription includes “Annual Domain” / Business Listing on DomainNetworks.com
- There is no legitimate company address, just PO Box 1280
- It includes their company email and phone number, along with a link to be added to a “Do Not Contact” submission
All of these things make it appear that you already have a connection to this company and it’s a bill for services – an implies that it is for your annual domain renewal.
But, if you read the entire page, some other things that seem “off”
- Description of services is Website Domain Listing – NOT DOMAIN RENEWAL
- $289 is a very high fee for domain registration renewal (around 10X what you could be paying to renew your domain name)
- A domain registrar is the company that you purchased your domain from. Your domain registrar is listed on the page ( and is NOT Domain Networks since Domain Networks is not a domain registrar.)
- The date that services are valid do not match when your domain name expires.
Not even flags, but it clearly states:
- MARKETING SERVICES in the top right corner
- It says: it is a website listing offer to be included in their directory.
- It says: We are not a domain registrar and we do not Register or Renew Domain Names.
- It says: THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION
It’s pretty clear that it is an advertisement and they are marketing services to you to include your domain name on their website listing directory.
If you visit domain networks .com you can see it is a website directory, or what they are calling domain listings (to twist words a bit).
It is not a legitimate bill, but an advertisement.
It is not a scam in the sense that they are trying to steal something from you or take over your domain name like some other domain name services letters you may also may receive. If you pay them you will get a directory listing on their website, just like what they are advertising. It could be described as a legal scam or deceptive advertising. No doubt it is questionable if it is an ethical approach to sell their services for your domain to be included in their directory website.
Even with all of the bad company reviews, why do they keep doing this?
It must work. Enough people must be falling for it to make it worth their effort.
With the price of a first class stamp costing $.73, they are mailing thousands – maybe hundreds of thousands of domain name owners?
For the sake of example, let’s say they mail 100,000 letters. That costs them $73,000 in postage. If only 1% (1,000) people pay the $265 fee, they bring in $265,000 a year!
Why are some people paying to be included in Domain Networks listing directory?
I can’t speak for all, but for many of them my guess is that they don’t know what they are paying for and think it is for annual domain renewal to keep their domain name registered.
This company is taking advantage of many small businesses (and I’m sure larger companies and organizations too) along with individuals that do not understand the domain registration and renewal process, or even what is a domain registrar. With companies that have a secretary or accounting department paying bills, they may just see it as a bill, and not give it a second glance and pay it.
Domain renewal is an annual process. With many established online businesses, the domain name could have been registered decades ago by someone no longer at the company, and/or no one really in charge of maintaining it annually. Domain name billing always comes over email, so monitoring for it can easily fall through the cracks with company turn over. When an “invoice” comes in the paper mail, it can easily be overlooked. Combined with a lot of domain related words in the company name like domain, networks, listing, annual renewal, services it makes it appear more legit than it is. It’s a solicitation for services, an advertisement. aka junk mail, throw it away.
If you look at company reviews on Trust Pilot or Better Business Bureau you can see many complaints from domain name owners that got these solicitations and either took the bait and realized it after the fact, or are just reporting the unethical approach. Many of the reviews though, they think it is for domain registration renewal, even though it clearly states it is not.
How Did Domain Networks Get My Private Information?
Well, it’s not private. Pretty much anything on the Internet can be seen if you know where to look for it. Domain name contact details are publicly viewable (if you did not register your domain name privately). Company web profiles like Google Business Profile lists your website along with your company address. It’s very easy to scrape data like this.
You may notice that your company will get these “invoices”/solicitations from (potentially multiple) companies annually. The pattern that I see is almost exactly 3 months before my domain name renewal is due I get start getting these letters. I’m sure they are specifically targeting this timeline to get to you before you see the actual reminders that your domain name will be up for annual renewal soon in hopes that you pay it and then don’t try to get a refund if you realize the mistake.
TAKEAWAY
Domain registration is an online service – you always buy a domain name through a website and pay online. You never get a paper bill in the mail.
Make sure you know who your domain registrar is and when your domain name is up for annual renewal. If you don’t know how to do this, contact me I will check it for you at no charge.
Trust your gut, if something seems off, it probably is.