My general preference is to register my domain names without Whois privacy enabled. The downside to that is my business phone number is exposed, and it leads to many spam phone calls. This happens frequently after winning domain names at auction and companies send emails trying to sell web development and related services.
One thing I’ve done in an effort to reduce the volume of spam phone calls is use Google Voice for Whois. I don’t forward the phone to my mobile number, so the calls go straight to voicemail. I check Google Voice on occasion to ensure I didn’t receive any phone calls or texts that need to be returned.
I use my Google Voice number as the default on my registrar accounts so this is the number that populates on Whois records for new registrations and auction acquisitions.
Importantly, I learned I needed to update the phone number under “Registration Info” at NameJet (and Snapnames). This link can be found in the “My Account” dropdown menu. Doing this will ensure auction wins uses the Google Voice phone number when domain names are provisioned to their partner registrars.
My mobile provider has done a pretty good job of identifying probable spam, but those calls can still be annoying. Using a Google Voice number has definitely reduced the volume of spam calls for me.
Great idea! I get 20-30 spam calls each day that are identified as spam, but another 7-10 that get thru that I answer that aren’t identified as spam. I will do this. Thanks Elliot.
This is an issue I face as well. Some days I get 50 calls. Its ridiculous. Does changing the phone number or address lock up domains these days?
Thank you for sharing this great help!