Step 1: run a lookup
Use our whois lookup and type the domain. It reads the public registration record and shows the registrar, when the domain was created, when it expires and its status.
Whois is the old name for this. The modern version is called RDAP and holds the same information in a cleaner format. Most lookup tools, including ours, now use it.
Step 2: read the result
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Registrar | The company that sells and manages the domain. It is the one to contact about the domain itself. |
| Registered | When the domain was first created. A very new domain on a site asking for money deserves caution. |
| Expires | When it must be renewed. If it lapses, anyone can try to register it. |
| Status | Locks such as “transfer prohibited” are good: they stop unauthorised moves. |
| Owner | Often hidden. See below. |
Why is the owner hidden?
Since data protection law tightened, most registries hide personal names, addresses and phone numbers by default. That is normal, and it does not mean the owner has something to hide. The registrar and dates are still shown.
Step 3: if you still need to reach them
- Look at the website itself. Companies must show a contact address and registered number on their site.
- For a UK company, search the name on Companies House. It is free and public.
- Email the registrar’s abuse or contact address shown in the record. They can pass a message on or act on abuse.
- If the domain is for sale, there is often a note on the page or a broker listed in the DNS records.
Checking a suspicious domain
A domain registered in the last few weeks, hidden owner details and an email setup with no SPF or DMARC record are all reasons to be careful. Our domain checker shows these together. None is proof of a scam, but together they are worth a pause before you pay or log in.
See the registrar, dates and status for any domain in seconds. Free, no sign-up.
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