Short answer: There is no such thing as "Domain name search engine registration". It's a scam.
Longer answer: There are several domain scam emails circulating, which to the untrained eye, can seem to be legitimate notices. Emails like this are a sneaky kind of scam trying to trick you about a service that does not exist, and has NOTHING do do with your actual domain registration, domain renewal, your domain's visibility in search engines, or your web site's ranking in search engines.
All they are doing is trying to get your money and/or your credit card information. Don't fall for them.
Currently the two most prevalent scams are coming from "Domain Name Services" and "SecureTrans92175.com".
Depending on the scammer, the wording and layout may vary. Scroll below to see some example excerpts.
Here is a text excerpt of a domain registration search engine submission scam email from "Domain Name Services". (Click here to see an actual sample email.)
Attention: Important Notice - Domain Service Notice
Complete and return by fax to
1-212-913-9858
ATT: -
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT
[Name of domain owner]
[Domain owner's email address]
[Address of domain owner]
US
WWW.[DOMAIN NAME]
Please ensure that your contact information is correct or make the
necessary changes above
PART I: REVIEW SOLICITATION
As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification for your business Domain name search engine registration. This letter is to inform you that it's time to send in your registration and save.
Failure to complete your Domain name search engine registration by the expiration date may result in cancellation of this offer making it difficult for your customers to locate on the web.
Privatization allows the consumer a choice when registering. Search engine subscription includes domain name search engine submission. You are under no obligation to pay the amounts stated below unless you accept this offer. Do not discard, this notice is not an invoice it is a courtesy reminder to register your domain name search engine listing so your customers can locate you on the web.
This notice for www._[your domain]_.com will expire on __[date]__. Act today!
[[ Various ordering options listed at bottom of email]]
Here is another example, this one from SecureTrans92175.com (Thanks to our customer J.P. for bringing this one to our attention):
Expiration Notice
Order #: [several digits]
Order Date: [Date]
Bill To: [Name, Address]
PROCESS PAYMENT NOW
Domain Name
[Your Domain] Registration
[Date] - [1 year Date] Price
$75.00 Term
1 Year
Domain: [Your Domain]
To: [Name]
Don't miss out on this offer which includes search engine submission for [Your Domain] for 12 months. There is no obligation to pay for this order unless you complete your payment by [Date]. Our services provide submission and search engine ranking for domain owners. This offer for submission services is not required to renew your domain registration.
Failure to complete your search engine registration by [Date] may result in the cancellation of this order (making it difficult for your customers to locate you using search engines on the web).
Process Payment For
[Your Domain]
UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS
You have received this message because you elected to receive special notifications and offers. If you no longer wish to receive our special notices, please unsubscribe here, or mail us a written request to the attention of: Customer Contact Manager, PO Box 4668 New York, NY 10163. Please allow up to four weeks for the complete unsubscribe process to take place. NOTE: If you have multiple accounts with us, you must opt out for each one individually in order to fully stop receiving these notifications. This message is CAN-SPAM compliant.
Please do not reply to this email, as we are not able to respond to messages sent to this address.
Despite their claims, these messages are not CAN-SPAM compliant. But if you respond in any way, all you are doing is confirming they reached a real email address, which they will add to a "Confirmed good email address" list to sell and/or spam. The PO Box address they provide in their scam email is either phony or a drop box to hide their true address.
Best solution: Just delete the message. If you sent one of these scammers any money before reading this, stop payment on your check asap. If you sent them your credit card information, you should immediately reverse the charges at your credit card bank, permanently cancel your credit card and have your bank issue you a new number, and start watching your credit history very, very carefully.
