Duplicate domains = Duplicate content?

[Stevo]

Hi there, we have a series of maybe 5 domains that used to be individual sites, but now we have temporarily consilidated and all have server side referral to the same resources - ie. the 5 sites basically exact mirrors of the same files. I'm just worried about duplicate content - is it possible we could be penalized if Google (or any SE) sees them as 5 different sites with duplicate content (despite the same IP)?
Any ideas would be fab!
Steve

[cbp]

5 domains pointing to one site = not spam
5 domains pointing to 5 different copies of the same site = spam

CBP

[khurramali]

Try using the 302 Temporary Redirect on all 4 domains pointing to the fifth one.

or use the 301 Permanent Redirect if you do not plan to develop separate websites on these domains in near future.

I am not sure if you have copied the same website on 5 different website hosting servers. If you have, then don't do it any more.

[fernimac]

You are in no danger to be banned by SEs for that. But you should select one of the domains as the main or canonical one and redirect the rest through 301 or 302 redirects to that one. That way, you can choose which one will be showed first in the SERPS andyou can focus on that one all your link baiting strategy.

[seoimage]

frrnimac is right, 301 them or 302 them. 302 would be wise if you plan to use them soon as an individual sites with different content on each. Your downtime in rankings would be shorter.

Also be careful because too many 301 redirects from other domains could also be seen as spam as well. 5 is not a large number but always throw caution to the wind.