Buyer Beware: 4 Essential Checks Before You Buy a Domain on the Aftermarket

The domain aftermarket can feel like the Wild West. You've found the perfect domain for your brand—it's short, memorable, and has that all-important .com extension. But it's not available for the standard $10 registration fee. Instead, it has a premium price tag, and you're being asked to trust a company you may have just heard of.

How can you be sure the transaction is safe? How do you know the seller is legitimate?

These are not just good questions; they are essential ones. At Domain Lions, we believe that a transparent process is the foundation of trust. Whether you buy from us or someone else, we want you to be protected. Here are the four non-negotiable checks you must perform before buying any domain on the aftermarket.

1. Verify the Seller’s Legitimacy: Are They a Real Business?

The first and most important step is to verify that you are dealing with a legitimate business entity, not an anonymous individual hiding behind a Gmail address.

• Check for a Registered Business: A legitimate domain broker will be a registered company (like an LLC in the United States). Look for their full company name and address in their email signature and on their website. You can often verify this information through official government websites (like searching for a company on the Wyoming Secretary of State's site).
• Look for a Professional Website: A serious business invests in its own online presence. Does the seller have a professional website that clearly explains their business model? Or are they operating solely through email?
• Avoid Anonymous Sellers: Be extremely wary of sellers who are not transparent about who they are.

The Bottom Line: If you can't verify that the seller is a real, registered business, walk away.

2. Demand Proof of Control: Can They Prove They Have the Domain?

This is the biggest red flag for scams like "front-running," where someone tries to sell you a domain they don't actually own. A legitimate seller can always provide undeniable proof that they control the domain.

The single best way to do this is by checking the domain itself. A legitimate seller will often host the "For Sale" or "Make Offer" page directly on the domain you want to buy.

For example, if you are buying example.com, the page where you make the payment or offer should be located at www.example.com. Only the true owner of a domain can control its website content. This is your real-time, verifiable proof of ownership.

The Bottom Line: If the seller cannot provide live, verifiable proof that they control the domain, it's a massive red flag.

3. Insist on Secure, Traceable Payment Methods

How a seller wants to be paid tells you everything about their legitimacy.

• Legitimate Methods: A professional seller will use world-class, trusted payment processors like Stripe or PayPal. These companies have robust security, fraud protection, and a clear paper trail.
• Suspicious Methods: Be extremely cautious if a seller insists on untraceable or irreversible payment methods like direct cryptocurrency transfers, Western Union, or wire transfers to personal bank accounts. These methods offer you zero protection if something goes wrong.

The Bottom Line: Never send money through a channel that doesn't offer you buyer protection.

4. Confirm Their "Money-Back Guarantee" is Unconditional

A confident, legitimate seller will always stand behind their service. The gold standard in the domain aftermarket is an unconditional money-back guarantee.

Read the terms carefully. A legitimate guarantee should be "no-questions-asked" for a reasonable period (e.g., 14 days). This means that if you are not satisfied for any reason, you are entitled to a full and prompt refund. This guarantee effectively acts as an escrow service, placing all the risk on the seller, where it belongs.

The Bottom Line: If the seller doesn't offer a clear and unconditional money-back guarantee, you have to ask yourself: what are they afraid of?

Buying a premium domain is a significant investment in your brand's future. By performing these four essential checks, you can navigate the aftermarket with confidence and ensure your investment is safe, secure, and smart.