What is Spam Trap?
A spam trap is an email address used to identify spammers, either recycled from abandoned accounts or created specifically to catch senders with poor list hygiene.
Spam traps (also called honeypots) are email addresses used by ISPs, anti-spam organizations, and security companies to identify senders with poor practices. These addresses never opt in to receive email, so anyone sending to them is likely a spammer or has serious list hygiene problems.
There are several types of spam traps. Pristine traps are addresses that were never used by real people—they're published in hidden places where only scrapers and bots would find them. Recycled traps are old, abandoned email addresses that ISPs have repurposed after a period of inactivity. Typo traps exploit common misspellings of popular domains.
Hitting spam traps signals to email providers that you're not maintaining your list properly or are using questionable acquisition methods. Even a single pristine trap hit can severely damage your sender reputation and deliverability.
Why Spam Trap Matters
Spam traps are invisible until the damage is done. You won't know you've hit one until your deliverability drops or you get blacklisted. Prevention is the only strategy: use confirmed opt-in, never buy lists, regularly remove inactive subscribers, and validate email addresses at signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do spam traps get on my list?
Common sources include purchased or scraped lists, old addresses that became recycled traps due to inactivity, and typos during signup. Never buy lists, use double opt-in, and regularly clean inactive subscribers.
How do I know if I've hit a spam trap?
You usually won't know directly—spam traps don't bounce or complain. Signs include sudden deliverability drops, blacklistings, or warnings from email providers. Some services offer spam trap monitoring.
Can I remove spam traps from my list?
You can't identify spam traps directly—that would defeat their purpose. The solution is prevention: remove old inactive addresses, validate new signups, and never use purchased lists.
What happens if I hit a spam trap?
Consequences range from reduced deliverability to complete blacklisting, depending on the trap type and your sending patterns. Pristine trap hits are treated more severely than recycled trap hits.
Related Terms
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Suppression List
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Bounce Rate
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