Most domain sales go smoothly, but wherever money changes hands, scammers follow. The good news is that a few simple rules protect you from almost every common trick. Here's how to buy a domain with confidence.
The golden rule: use a trusted platform
The single most important step is to pay through a well-known marketplace or escrow service. These platforms hold your payment and make sure the domain is actually delivered. If the seller doesn't transfer the domain, you get your money back.
Our domains are sold through GoDaddy's secure checkout, so your payment and the transfer are both protected.
Warning signs of a domain scam
Be careful if you notice any of these:
- Pressure to pay outside a platform. "Send it by bank transfer and I'll give you a discount" is the most common red flag.
- Unusual payment methods. Gift cards, crypto to a private wallet or money transfer apps offer no protection.
- Unsolicited emails offering "your" domain. Messages claiming a domain similar to yours is about to be registered by someone else are usually sales tricks.
- Fake escrow websites. Scammers sometimes create look-alike escrow sites. Always type the escrow company's address yourself instead of clicking a link.
- Prices that are too good to be true. A premium name at a tiny fraction of its value is a warning, not a bargain.
- Fake renewal notices. Letters or emails asking you to "renew" with an unknown company can trick you into transferring your domain.
Verify the seller and the domain
Before paying, confirm that the listing is genuine. On a marketplace, the listing should come from a verified account. You can also check:
- Whether the domain shows a "for sale" page that links to the same marketplace
- The domain's history in a web archive
- That the price and domain name match exactly across messages
Protect your account after buying
Scams don't only happen before you buy. Once the domain is yours, keep it safe:
- Turn on two-factor authentication on your registrar account.
- Use a strong, unique password.
- Keep registrar lock enabled.
- Turn on auto-renew so the domain never expires.
- Use an email address for your account that you check regularly.
What to do if something feels wrong
Stop and don't send any money. Contact the marketplace's support team directly using the contact details on their official website, not details from an email you received. Legitimate sellers will understand your caution.
Buying from us
Every domain in our portfolio has a clear Buy Now price and is sold through GoDaddy, so there's no need to send money directly to anyone. If you have questions about a domain before buying, contact us. To learn more about the process, read our step-by-step guide to buying a premium domain, or browse all domains.
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