How do you verify a domain seller and avoid scams when buying a domain?
Verify a domain seller by having them prove control of the domain — for example by adding a DNS record or changing a page on it at your request — and by closing only through an escrow service you reach yourself, which pays the seller only after the domain is in your account. The common scams all try to break one of those two steps: fake escrow sites, requests to pay directly, sellers who do not actually control the name, and look-alike domains offered as the real one. A marketplace's seller verification confirms identity or ownership at some point; it does not prove the domain is still available today.
A verification sequence
- Check the domain's public registration data: registrar, creation date and whether a transfer lock is present.
- Ask the seller to prove control: add a DNS TXT record you specify, or change content on the domain.
- Agree price and terms in writing, then open the transaction on an escrow provider whose address you typed yourself.
- Pay only into escrow. Accept only when the domain shows in your own registrar account.
- After transfer, change all contacts, enable registrar lock and two-factor authentication.
Common domain-purchase scams
| Scam | How it works | How to block it |
|---|---|---|
| Fake escrow site | Seller sends a link to a look-alike escrow site that takes your payment | Type the escrow provider's address yourself |
| Pay-direct discount | Seller offers a lower price for a wire or crypto payment outside escrow | Refuse; no discount covers losing the full amount |
| Seller without control | Someone lists a domain they do not own | Require proof of control before paying |
| Look-alike domain | A misspelled or different-extension name is passed off as the real one | Compare the exact string in the escrow transaction |
| Fake appraisal upsell | An “appraisal” service inflates value to justify a price | Use reported comparable sales instead |
How NameSnatcher listings record seller verification
All 335,216 listings carry a seller-verification record. The method differs, and none of them confirms that the seller still has the domain today — that is checked separately before any money moves.
| Verification on file | Listings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Verified | 216,424 | 64.6% |
| Verified | 109,756 | 32.7% |
| DNS Verified (TXT record) | 6,739 | 2% |
| Registrar Verified | 2,297 | 0.7% |
Method: Computed from NameSnatcher's live inventory (listings marked not-for-sale excluded) using each listing's recorded terms. Verification method is the marketplace's record for the seller of each listing. Recorded prices are seller terms on file; SAW confirms current availability and price before any purchase.
Transfer locks that affect the timeline
Under ICANN's Transfer Policy, a registrar may deny a transfer to another registrar within 60 days of the domain's creation or of a previous registrar transfer, and may apply a 60-day transfer lock after a change of registrant unless the registrant opted out. A seller who says the domain “cannot move yet” may be telling the truth; escrow protects you while you wait.
Source: ICANN Transfer Policy (checked November 2026).
When this is not the right choice
- The seller refuses escrow or insists on a specific escrow site you cannot verify independently.
- The seller cannot prove control of the domain.
- The domain is within a 60-day transfer lock and the seller will not wait.
Common mistakes
- Treating a marketplace verification badge as proof the domain is available now.
- Clicking an escrow link from the seller.
- Accepting the escrow transaction before the domain appears in your account.
- Comparing the domain name loosely instead of character by character.
Frequently asked questions
What does seller verification on NameSnatcher mean?
Each of the 335,216 listings carries a verification record — for example DNS-based verification (2% of listings) or manual verification (64.6%). It confirms the seller's identity or control at the time of verification; SAW confirms current availability and terms before any purchase proceeds.
How can a seller prove they own a domain?
Ask them to add a DNS TXT record with a value you choose, or to change content on the domain. Only the person controlling the domain can do either.
Is it safe to pay a domain seller by wire transfer?
Not directly. Pay through a licensed escrow service you reach yourself; the seller is paid only after the domain is in your account.
What should I do right after receiving a purchased domain?
Update the registrant and admin contacts, enable registrar lock and two-factor authentication, and point DNS to your own infrastructure.
Next steps
Sources
- ICANN Transfer Policy — checked November 2026
- Escrow.com — how domain transactions work — checked November 2026
NameSnatcher provides acquisition intelligence; SAW Brokerage confirms availability, negotiates, and coordinates escrow and transfer. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.