When a fraudulent domain is impersonating your company, taking quick action is essential to prevent potential damage. This lesson covers the steps to identify and report the fake domain.
Step 1: Identify the Domain Registrar and Hosting Provider
To determine where the domain is registered and hosted, use a WHOIS lookup tool. These tools provide information about the domain's registrar and sometimes the hosting provider.
Use one of the following WHOIS lookup tools:
Enter the fraudulent domain into the search bar, and note the registrar and any hosting provider details.
Step 2: Report the Fake Domain to the Registrar
Most domain registrars have a way to report fraudulent or abusive domains. Once you have identified the registrar, locate their abuse or fraud reporting page and submit a complaint.
To find the correct page, search Google for:
- [Registrar Name] abuse report
- [Registrar Name] report fraud
If the registrar does not have a public abuse page, use their general support contact to submit a request.
In your report, include:
- The fraudulent domain name
- How it is impersonating your company (e.g., copying your website, email spoofing)
- A link to your legitimate website for verification
- Any supporting screenshots or evidence
Step 3: Report the Fake Website to the Hosting Provider
If the WHOIS lookup provided hosting information, report the fake website to the hosting provider. Most hosting companies have an abuse or fraud reporting page where you can submit complaints about websites violating their terms of service.
Use Google search to find:
- [Hosting Provider Name] abuse report
- [Hosting Provider Name] fraud complaint
When reporting, include:
- The fraudulent domain name
- A description of how it is impersonating your company
- Screenshots or links as evidence
- Any potential harm being caused ( e.g., phishing, customer confusion )
Step 4: Request a DMCA Takedown if Content Is Stolen
If the fake website is using your copyrighted content, you can file a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown request. This process asks the hosting provider to remove the infringing content.
Step 5: Monitor for Further Activity
After submitting reports, continue monitoring the fraudulent domain to see if it is taken down. Set up Google Alerts to track mentions of your company name or variations of your domain. This can help identify future impersonation attempts early.
Google Alerts: https://www.google.com/alerts
If the domain remains active after reporting, consider consulting a legal professional or an online fraud specialist to explore further actions.
Resources
If Cloudflare is involved, submit an abuse report: https://www.cloudflare.com/abuse/
FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions.
