Legit or Scam
Protection & response

Domain Age Check (WHOIS)

Updated June 1, 2026Also called: whois lookup, domain registration check

Looking up when a website's domain was registered — a brand-new domain behind an established “company” is a strong scam signal.

A free WHOIS or domain-lookup tool reveals when a domain was registered. If a supposedly well-known employer's careers site was created days or weeks ago, the mismatch exposes a front company or clone site.

It's a fast, powerful check: real companies typically own their domains for years, while scam sites are freshly minted and quickly discarded.

Frequently asked questions

How does checking a domain's age help spot a scam?

Legitimate companies have usually owned their domain for years. If a WHOIS lookup shows the site was registered very recently despite claiming to be an established employer, that's a strong sign it's fake.

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Educational content only — not legal, financial, or security advice. Scenarios and company names are illustrative.