How Businesses Can Stop Cybercriminals From Using Expired Domains for Fraud

Introduction

When a domain name expires, many businesses assume it’s no longer a concern. However, cybercriminals see expired domains as opportunities to execute fraud, phishing scams, and brand impersonation attacks.

Each year, thousands of domains lapse due to missed renewals, business closures, or simple oversight. Bad actors often re-register these domains and use them to trick customers, hijack email communications, or even launch malware attacks. If your brand lets a domain expire, you could be giving scammers a tool to exploit your reputation. In this article, we’ll break down how expired domains are used by cybercriminals and what businesses can do to stay protected.

How Expired Domains Are Exploited for Fraud

1. Phishing Scams & Email Spoofing

When a company lets a domain expire, it often still has an online history, such as search engine results, backlinks, and past email communication records. Cybercriminals take advantage of this by re-registering the domain and using it to impersonate the original business.

Attackers then send emails from the expired domain, posing as the legitimate company. Customers, employees, or vendors assume the emails are legitimate and may be tricked into providing payments, sensitive information, or login credentials.

To prevent it, always renew critical domains, even if they’re no longer in active use. Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email security protocols to prevent email spoofing. Monitor expired domain auctions to identify and reclaim any domains that could be misused.

2. Fake E-Commerce & Customer Service Websites

Expired domains with an established online presence are often used to create fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate businesses, tricking customers into providing payment details or login credentials.

A cybercriminal registers an expired domain previously associated with an e-commerce or service business. They create a website that looks identical to the original, using archived versions. Customers unknowingly make purchases or enter sensitive data on the fraudulent website.

To prevent it, monitor for expired domains related to your brand, including common typos or variations. Use defensive domain registrations to secure alternate spellings of your brand’s domains. Implement a public warning system to alert customers of fraudulent websites.

3. Malvertising & SEO Poisoning

Expired domains often retain strong SEO rankings and backlinks from reputable sources. Cybercriminals exploit this by using expired domains to distribute malware or redirect traffic to malicious sites.

An attacker purchases a high-ranking expired domain with existing backlinks from trusted sites. They load the domain with malware-infected ads or redirect visitors to scam pages. Users who trust the domain’s previous reputation unknowingly download malware or enter personal information.

To prevent it, regularly audit brand-related domains and backlinks to identify potential threats. Use domain monitoring tools or services to track changes in your brand’s expired domains. Report fraudulent domains to ICANN and search engines to request takedowns.
 

Best Practices for Preventing Expired Domain Exploitation

1. Set Up Auto-Renewal for All Business Domains – Ensure that all critical domains are automatically renewed to prevent accidental expiration.

2. Maintain Ownership of Key Domains, Even If Not in Use – Keep ownership of legacy domains, past product names, or old brand domains to prevent misuse.

3. Implement Defensive Domain Registrations – Secure common misspellings or alternative TLD versions of your brand name.

4. Educate Employees & Customers – Inform internal teams and customers about the risks of fake domains and phishing attacks.

Conclusion

Cybercriminals capitalize on expired domains because they carry an established reputation and trust factor. Without proactive domain security measures, businesses risk phishing scams, data breaches, and reputational damage.

It’s vital for businesses to implement a strong domain management strategy, by renewing key domains, monitoring the domain aftermarket, and securing defensive registrations. In turn, businesses can prevent bad actors from exploiting their digital identity.