Find answers to common questions about email verification.
What percentage of catch-alls should I keep vs. remove?
Keep only the small fraction of catch-alls that are actively engaging with your emails. Suppress the rest to protect your sender reputation.
Do ESPs treat catch-all-heavy lists differently?
Yes. Mailbox providers reward engagement. Sending to lists with many low-engagement addresses (like unmonitored catch-alls) signals poor list quality and increases your risk of landing in spam.
Are there legal/privacy considerations?
Yes. Regulations often require clear consent and a lawful basis for communication. Sending to a catch-all address creates ambiguity about whether you've reached the consenting individual. We recommend you consult your legal team for jurisdiction-specific guidance.
Can catch-alls be spam traps?
Yes, dormant email addresses are sometimes converted into catch-alls that function as spam traps. Hitting a trap can lead to your domain or IP being immediately blocklisted.
How can I avoid collecting catch-alls at signup?
Use pre-send list validation to check your emails before a campaign. Additionally, using a double opt-in process helps confirm that a real, engaged person is behind the address you collected.
