WDH-100 Websites, Domains & Internet Infrastructure
Does a contact address or telephone number on a website identify the operator?¶
Not by itself. Contact details may be false, copied, outdated, shared or controlled on behalf of somebody else.
Evidence and decisions to consider¶
- address or number provider records;
- subscriber or account details;
- communications and access history;
- payment records;
- linked devices;
- repeated identifiers across registrar, platform and payment services.
Keep the conclusion precise¶
Separate what the website displayed from who controlled the relevant account, infrastructure, payment flow or decision. Test shared access, delegation, false details, compromise, remote administration and changes over time.
Key takeaway
Treat website contact details as leads that require verification and corroboration.