If you’ve ever what is a spam trap  list that ends up getting flagged as spam, then you have hit a spam trap. This article will help you understand what is a spam trap, and how you can avoid hitting one of these email addresses in the future.

Spam traps are email address that are used by ISPs and blocklist operators to identify senders who don’t follow good list collection and management practices. While the primary use of these email addresses is to catch spammers, they also catch legitimate senders who do not properly maintain and manage their lists.

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There are three primary types of spam traps. Pristine spam traps are email addresses that have never been used by any person, and they are set up specifically to identify senders who do not follow good collection and maintenance processes. These types of traps are the most dangerous to hit, and they can immediately cause your domain or IP address to get blocked.

Recycled spam traps are email addresses that have been used by real people at some point in the past, but they have been abandoned and repurposed as spam traps by providers to expose senders who do not use proper list hygiene. This type of trap is more likely to be found on email lists that are purchased or obtained through scraping techniques.

To avoid hitting a spam trap, don’t purchase contact lists or use any email addresses that you have not collected through your double opt-in process. Make sure you run a spam test and clean your email addresses regularly. Also, avoid sending emails to contacts that have not opened or clicked your email in the last six months. This practice will prevent you from waking up “dead” contacts and causing your email deliverability to get worse.