You open your mailbox and see an urgent reminder: "Your domain name expires within 24 hours. Pay now to prevent it from going offline." It looks official, the logo is correct, and the tone is demanding. But beware: chances are high that you are dealing with a fake hosting invoice.

At Mediawax, we are seeing a sharp increase in this form of scamming. In this blog, we explain how to distinguish a real invoice from a fake one and what to do if you receive a suspicious message.

How do the scammers operate?

Scammers use public information in the DNS register to see when a domain name was registered. They send you an invoice for 'domain registration', 'SEO optimization', or 'cloud services' in the hope that you will click on the payment link immediately in a rush and panic.

Often, these involve relatively small amounts (between €15 and €35), meaning entrepreneurs are less likely to become suspicious and quickly pay the invoice "in between" other tasks. 5 signs that an invoice is fake

Watch out for the following red flags:

The sender: Check the email address. Does it really come from @mediawax.be or does it only look like it (e.g. [email protected])?
Urgent language: Scammers use words like "Final warning," "Immediate suspension," or "Within 24 hours" to put pressure on you.
Strange payment methods: Are you asked to pay via a dubious link, cryptocurrency, or a foreign bank account number? Then be extra alert.
Incorrect details: Is the customer number correct? Is the description of the service vague (e.g. "Internet services" instead of your specific domain name)?
You have already paid: Mediawax often works with automatic renewals or fixed billing intervals. Do you suddenly receive a separate invoice outside the normal cycle? Then raise the alarm.

What should you do if you receive a suspicious email?

Do not click on links or open attachments. These may contain malware.
Check your account: Log in directly to your official Mediawax customer portal to check your invoice status.
Contact us: If in doubt, forward the email to us. We can immediately confirm whether the invoice originates from us.
Report it: You can always forward suspicious emails to [email protected].

The Mediawax Guarantee

At Mediawax, we attach great importance to transparent communication. Our invoices are recognizable, consistent, and are always communicated via secure channels. We will never put unreasonable pressure on you to pay within a few hours without prior communication.

Conclusion

Fraudsters are getting smarter, but by staying alert and always checking the sender, you can keep them at bay. Trust your gut: if an invoice "doesn't feel right," it usually is.

Have you received a questionable invoice?