Email Glossary

Spam Trap

Spam traps are email addresses used by ISPs, blacklist operators, and security organizations to identify spammers. These addresses never opt in to receive email, so anyone emailing them is likely sending to purchased lists or poorly maintained databases.

Types of Spam Traps

Pristine traps: Created specifically to catch spam. Never used by a real person, never signed up for anything. Only way to get them is from scraped or purchased lists.

Recycled traps: Old addresses that were once valid but abandoned. After a bounce period, they're reactivated as traps. Indicates poor list hygiene.

Typo traps: Common typos of major domains (gmial.com, yahooo.com). Catches sloppy data collection.

Honeypots: Hidden email addresses on websites that only scrapers would find. Invisible to humans.

How Spam Traps Hurt You

Hitting spam traps signals that you're:

  • ●Using purchased/scraped lists
  • ●Not validating email addresses
  • ●Not cleaning inactive subscribers

Consequences:

  • ●Immediate blacklisting (pristine traps)
  • ●Gradual reputation decline (recycled traps)
  • ●Blocked by major ISPs
  • ●Permanent damage to domain reputation

One pristine trap hit can tank your entire sending reputation overnight.

Avoiding Spam Traps

Never:

  • ●Buy or rent email lists
  • ●Scrape websites for addresses
  • ●Use old lists without re-confirming

Always:

  • ●Use double opt-in
  • ●Validate addresses at collection
  • ●Remove bounces immediately
  • ●Clean inactive subscribers regularly
  • ●Monitor for suspicious patterns

Email validation services: These can identify likely traps before you send. Not perfect, but catches obvious issues.

Recovering From Spam Trap Hits

If you've hit traps:

  • ●Stop sending immediately - Prevent further damage
  • ●Identify the source - Which list was used?
  • ●Remove the contaminated list - Don't try to clean it
  • ●Clean remaining lists - Validation + engagement filtering
  • ●Start fresh - Rebuild with double opt-in only
  • ●Monitor reputation - Check blacklists, Postmaster Tools

Recovery takes weeks to months. Some reputation damage may be permanent, consider a new domain for severe cases.

Related Terms

Email Blacklist

A database of IPs or domains identified as spam sources that ISPs use to block email.

List Hygiene

The practice of maintaining a clean email list by removing invalid and inactive addresses.

Email Deliverability

The ability of your emails to reach recipients' inboxes instead of spam.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I've hit a spam trap?
You often don't know directly. Signs include: sudden blacklisting, deliverability drop with no other explanation, ISP blocking without cause. Some blacklist operators will tell you; others won't. Prevention is the only reliable strategy.
Can I identify spam traps in my list?
Not with certainty. Email validation services flag likely traps based on patterns, but trap operators keep addresses secret. Focus on how addresses were collected, if there's any doubt about consent, don't send.
I only use opt-in lists, can I still hit traps?
Yes. Recycled traps were once real addresses. If subscribers became inactive and you didn't remove them, they may have become traps. Regular cleaning and engagement monitoring protects against recycled traps.
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