October 28, 2015
Domain name registrants should be on the lookout for a phishing email posing as a domain "suspension" notice.
It appears many registrants around the world have been receiving the phishing emails over the last couple of days, which reads as below - ( ) indicates placeholders where details related to the registration are inserted in the email text.
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Dear Sir/Madam,
The following domain names have been suspended for violation of the (Registrar name here) Abuse Policy:
Domain Name: (Registrant's domain)
Registrar: (Registrar name)
Registrant Name: (Registrant name)
Multiple warnings were sent by (Registrar name) Spam and Abuse Department to give you an opportunity to address the complaints we have received.
We did not receive a reply from you to these email warnings so we then attempted to contact you via telephone.
We had no choice but to suspend your domain name when you did not respond to our attempts to contact you.
Click here and download a copy of complaints we have received.
Please contact us for additional information regarding this notification.
Sincerely,
(Registrar Name)
Spam and Abuse Department
Abuse Department Hotline: (Fake Number)
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The "click here" wording links to a file that may contain malware that could compromise the victim's system; or it's an attempt to gain control of the registrant's domain. Hovering over the link reveals that it does not point to the domain's registrar.
Obviously, recipients of the phishing scam should not click the link and just simply delete the email. Companies should inform relevant staff of the emails; particularly staff members who receive communications concerning domain name administration.
Whether or not the perpetrators are attempting to hijack domains, the situation serves as a reminder of the importance of domain name security; a topic often overlooked by busy business owners. Any email relating to the administration of a domain name should be treated with caution.
Unfortunately, failing to observe best practices with regard to domain name security can sometimes end in headaches - and for some businesses; substantial financial and even reputation losses.
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