Being added to an email blocklist is not ideal. If you’ve read our previous blogs, then you probably have a general idea of why being put on a blocklist is bad for your sender reputation.
There are a few spam reporting solutions on the internet and one of the more prevalent today is SpamCop.
These blocklists can and will block IP addresses and even domains if any message coming from either one meets their criteria. That’s why it’s important to understand how they work, what causes them to have you listed, and how you can get delisted.
What Is SpamCop Blocklist?
SpamCop is one of the leading blocklisting services on the web that allows users to report email sources that send unwanted messages to them. Even just one SpamCop user who reports any of your messages as spam will result in your IP address being placed on the blocklist.
From there, the email management departments from various internet service providers (ISPs) and corporations who use the SpamCop blocklist as a reference may then choose to block all incoming mail from your IP.
Furthermore, your web hosting provider may also suspend or take down your site if they see your name listed on. Many of these hosting contracts have this clause added in their agreement section to address this concern.
How Does it Work?
SpamCop is composed of two main parts: its reporting service and blocking list. These two operate separately yet rely on each other to achieve the same goal.
With the reporting service, users can file complaints with the appropriate administrators concerning spam emails. These reports are then provided to the blocking service that stays constantly updated. The blocking service is the part that’s readily available for mail administrators to use as a reference blocklist.
When a user files an email as spam, SpamCop adds their IP address to its list so that network administrators from ISPs and corporations can be informed. If you send an email to an ISP that uses SpamCop as its reference, your message may not reach its intended destination.
A dreadful aspect of the blocklisting solution is that you can be affected by its blocklisting even when you haven’t been reported as spam. This is because SpamCop will list the IP address of the sending server. Users who share the same IP address may suffer from the SpamCop blocklist even when they haven’t done anything wrong.
Unfortunately, it’s often incredibly hard to identify who was responsible for sending spam, especially since modern spammers use a range of techniques to get past protocols.
SpamCop addresses this concern by using a combination of the sender’s IP address and the time and date in which the message was sent. Such data can help lead their specialists to the individual who actually sent the email.
Moreover, they use a mixture of network queries like DNS and WHOIS to double-check all details in an email’s header. It also locates the email address of the administrator on the server where the message originates.
From there, it will come up with a request to have the IP disciplined, including the necessary information administrators who need to track down the responsible user.
Why am I Listed?
Here are the common reasons why SpamCop may add you to their list:
- You hit a spam trap: Your email server sent a message to one of the spam trap addresses. These spam traps are confidential and additional details about them are not provided.
- A user reported you: A user has reported the server you’re using as a spam source. These users can be mistaken with their report but you’ll still suffer the consequences even if you aren’t at fault.
However, you can still appear unintentionally as a spammer especially when a security breach happens and the account you are using has been compromised. A compromised email address may send hundreds of messages in a day, causing it to trigger SpamCop’s blocklisting protocols.
Another thing to keep in mind is that using open proxies and relays is not recommended because they are on the SpamCop blocklist. The entity lists IP addresses from these services down because they are often used by malicious senders to deliver spam emails. If you happen to send an email using an open proxy or relay, you may find yourself added to the blocklist.
How To Get Removed From the SpamCop Blocking List
In case you have been added to the SpamCop blocklist, then there’s nothing you can do to take yourself out of their list. The good news is that you’ll eventually be removed from the blocklist after 24 hours if no more spam reports are made on your server.
SpamCop has a lookup page that will let you know if your IP address has been blocklisted. Your lookup report will also provide a duration on how long before your address will be delisted.
The time it takes depends on the timing and the number of users who reported you. In case you get reported again after being delisted, you can expect a higher time frame until the next delisting from SpamCop.
Conclusion
SpamCop is one of the leading blocklisting solutions on the web today. As an email marketer, it’s in your best interest to avoid being listed here.
By learning about how the SpamCop blocklist works, you can have a better understanding of how the system operates and what to expect in case you get blocklisted.
