How to Avoid Domain Renewal Scams

Why Domain Renewal Scams Matter

So you found your perfect domain and registered it in your Dynadot account - congratulations! We know that once you've found that perfect domain, you don't want to lose it. Unfortunately, there are people out there who are also aware that you don't want to lose your domain, and because of this you may become their target.

 

How Dynadot Handles Domain Renewals

If your domain is registered with Dynadot, Dynadot will email you renewal reminders starting 60 days prior to your domain's expiration. For manual renewals, the legitimate process starts inside your Dynadot account.

You can also choose to transfer your domain to another registrar, which for most TLDs usually adds time (typically 1 year - to your domain), but this is not the same thing as renewing with your current registrar. Dynadot also recommends starting any transfer at least 2 weeks before expiration.

 

Common Types of Domain Renewal Scams

 

Scam #1: Fake Renewal Notices

If you do receive any kind of message from another company asking you to renew your domain (whether it is by email or even snail mail), treat it carefully. ICANN has specifically documented fake renewal notices as a long-running problem: they may be designed to get you to pay an unnecessary fee, switch registrars without realizing it, or reveal credentials or authorization codes.

In other words, what looks like a routine renewal notice may actually be a scam or a disguised transfer solicitation.

 

Scam #2: Requests for Your Dynadot Login Information

Another scam we have encountered asks for your Dynadot account information, including your username and password, so the sender can supposedly renew your domain from inside your Dynadot account. Giving anyone your Dynadot login details is a huge security risk. Instead of having your domain renewed, you may find it deleted or stolen, along with any personal information stored in your account.

It is always best practice to never give anyone your account password, and you should know that no Dynadot customer service representative will ever ask for your password. If you are unsure, sign in directly at Dynadot rather than clicking through an email, and contact Dynadot support through official channels.

To learn how to renew your domain with Dynadot, watch this video:

 

Scam #3: A "Renewal" That Is Actually a Transfer

A third scam we have seen uses the word "renew," but it is actually referring to a "transfer." Again, the transfer is often priced much higher than a normal renewal. Although a transfer may add time to the registration term, it is still not the same as a renewal with your current registrar.

Before agreeing to any transfer, make sure you recognize the registrar and verify whether it is ICANN-accredited through ICANN's public registrar directory. Also remember that many domains cannot be transferred within 60 days of a new registration or a recent transfer, so rushed or misleading transfer notices deserve extra scrutiny.

To check which registrar is ICANN-accredited, view this list.

 

How to Protect Your Domain

 

Use Auto-Renew if Possible

To make sure you do not lose your domain, we offer the ability to set up auto-renewal right in your account. With auto-renewal, you do not have to worry as much about missing the deadline - just make sure your payment method is valid.

Dynadot's current auto-renew system attempts renewal 15 days before expiration, and if the first attempt fails, it continues retrying so you still have time to fix a payment issue.

 

Watch for Expiration and Grace Periods

If you'd prefer not to use auto-renewal, you'll still start receiving multiple email reminders from us 60 days before the domain is set to expire.

Even if you miss the renewal date, many domain extensions still offer a renewal grace period after expiration, followed by a redemption period where the domain may be recoverable for a higher fee. The exact timing varies by TLD, so it is best to check the specific extension rather than assume every domain follows the same schedule. Most domain extensions offer up to a 30-day renewal grace period.

 

Verify Before You Act

If you do receive something about renewing your domain and you are unsure if it is legitimate, feel free to contact Dynadot. It's always better to verify through official support than to reply to the message, use the phone number in the notice, or submit payment through a third-party link.

 

Reduce Scam Exposure with Domain Privacy

Want to avoid receiving a renewal scam in the first place? Using domain privacy can help reduce unwanted outreach by limiting the personal information visible in public registration data. Dynadot currently offers free domain privacy options, including partial and full privacy, which can help reduce spam and scam targeting tied to public WHOIS or registration-data lookups.

Ready to register your domain with us? Start your domain search!

 

FAQs

 

How does Dynadot send renewal reminders?

Dynadot sends renewal reminder emails starting 60 days before expiration to your account email and, if configured, your renewal email.

 

What is the safest way to renew a Dynadot domain?

The safest approach is to sign in to your Dynadot account directly and complete the renewal there, or enable auto-renew in advance.

 

How can I tell whether a "renewal" notice is really a transfer offer?

Check whether the notice is coming from your actual registrar, read the fine print carefully, and verify the company in ICANN's accredited registrar directory before taking action.

 

What happens if I miss my renewal date?

Many domains still have a renewal grace period after expiration, and some then move into a redemption period with a higher recovery fee. The exact timeline depends on the TLD.

 

Does domain privacy help reduce renewal scam outreach?

It can help by limiting how much of your contact information appears in public registration data, which may reduce spam and scam attempts.