IPzest
Contacts verified 2026-09-06

GoDaddy Abuse Report: How to Report a Domain or Website

Report counterfeit and brand-abuse domains to GoDaddy.

5–14 days for clear trademark and phishing casesGoDaddy Abuse Reporting

Where to report

To file a GoDaddy abuse report, use the form at legalportal.godaddy.com/abuse and choose the matching category: phishing, malware, intellectual property infringement, or public safety. GoDaddy’s published ICANN abuse contact is abuse@godaddy.com, but the legal portal is the channel GoDaddy directs reporters to. Include the exact domain, the URLs where the abuse appears, trademark or copyright documentation, and screenshots. No turnaround is published; clear phishing and trademark cases are typically actioned in 5–14 days. GoDaddy can suspend a domain it registers and, when it also hosts the site, can act on the content. For a typosquat hosted elsewhere, file this registrar report and a parallel complaint to the host.

Abuse report form
legalportal.godaddy.com/abuse
Abuse email
abuse@godaddy.com

Include in your report

  • The exact domain and the specific URLs where the abuse appears
  • The abuse category (phishing, malware, trademark or copyright infringement)
  • Trademark registration number and jurisdiction, or copyright ownership details
  • Screenshots or archived copies of the infringing content
  • Your name, organization, and a working email address

GoDaddy registers the domain; it can suspend or lock a domain but cannot edit the site's content. If the abuse is the content itself, report it to the hosting provider as well.

A GoDaddy abuse report can suspend or lock the domain. It cannot rewrite the website. If the fake store or phishing page is still live, file a parallel complaint with the hosting provider. For a cloned storefront selling your products, follow how to remove a fake website. If someone registered your business name and the domain is parked or for sale, use the domain dispute playbook instead of an abuse form. Free takedown templates cover the wording.

Why brand-abuse sites show up on GoDaddy

GoDaddy's domain volume means new brand-abuse registrations appear daily. Typosquatting domains (brandnme.com vs brandname.com), homoglyph variations (using Cyrillic characters), and clearly infringing brand-name domains all register through GoDaddy. Effective enforcement requires both registrar-level abuse reporting and parallel UDRP/URS proceedings for clear trademark cases.

What a GoDaddy abuse report can cover

  • Typosquatting domains targeting brand traffic
  • Homoglyph domain variations using Unicode-similar characters
  • Phishing domains impersonating brand login pages
  • Counterfeit ecommerce domains using brand names
  • Lookalike domains for ad fraud and credential harvesting

How to file a GoDaddy abuse report

  1. 1

    Document the domain and content

    Capture WHOIS data, screenshots of the domain's content, and any phishing or counterfeit patterns. Domains can change hosting or content rapidly to evade enforcement.

  2. 2

    File via the GoDaddy abuse form

    Submit through legalportal.godaddy.com/abuse (the old supportcenter.godaddy.com/AbuseReport address redirects there). Specify the phishing, malware, or intellectual property category and attach rights documentation.

  3. 3

    Consider parallel UDRP or URS proceedings

    For clear trademark infringement, UDRP (Uniform Domain Resolution Policy) or URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension) proceedings provide arbitration outcomes that registrars must enforce. UDRP costs ~$1,500 per case; URS is faster and cheaper for clear cases.

  4. 4

    Coordinate with hosting and DNS infrastructure

    GoDaddy registers domains and may also host them. Coordinated complaints to both registrar and hosting infrastructure accelerate takedown.

GoDaddy Abuse Reporting

When a GoDaddy abuse report is not enough

Registrar complaints work for phishing, malware, and clear policy violations. They do not transfer a domain to you, and they often bounce trademark-only disputes. For a brand-name domain you want to own, file a UDRP (or URS for a faster suspension) — the domain squatting playbook covers that choice. If GoDaddy only registered the name and someone else hosts the site, send a second report through the hosting takedown guides.

How IPzest speeds up GoDaddy enforcement

  • Continuous brand-name domain registration monitoring across GoDaddy and other major registrars
  • Typosquat and homoglyph detection for brand-abuse pattern recognition
  • Coordinated abuse reporting and UDRP filing for clear trademark cases
  • Cross-registrar tracking when brand-abuse operations register across multiple providers

Frequently asked questions

How do I report abuse to GoDaddy?

Use the GoDaddy abuse form at https://legalportal.godaddy.com/abuse and choose the matching category: phishing, malware, intellectual property infringement, or public safety. GoDaddy's published ICANN abuse contact is abuse@godaddy.com, but the form is the channel GoDaddy directs reporters to. Include the domain, the specific URLs, evidence, and your rights documentation.

How fast does GoDaddy take down infringing domains?

Clear phishing and trademark cases are typically actioned in 5–14 days. Complex cases or domains with unclear infringement may require UDRP proceedings for definitive resolution.

What's the difference between abuse reporting and UDRP?

Abuse reporting is direct to the registrar and handles policy violations (phishing, malware, clear infringement). UDRP is formal arbitration that produces enforceable transfer or suspension orders.

Can GoDaddy refuse to register brand-abuse domains proactively?

Limited. Registrars cannot screen all registrations against trademark databases. Reactive enforcement after registration is the primary tool.

Other registrars

Report abuse to Namecheap

Report counterfeit and brand-abuse domains to Namecheap.

Report abuse to Network Solutions

Report counterfeit and brand-abuse domains to Network Solutions.

Report abuse to Squarespace Domains

Report counterfeit and brand-abuse domains to Squarespace Domains.

Report abuse to Tucows (OpenSRS, Enom)

Report counterfeit and brand-abuse domains to Tucows, OpenSRS, and Enom.

All registrars we cover

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