Why can’t my SMTP tool validate the Risky Emails?

If you’ve ever wondered why your standard SMTP-based email validation tool struggles with “risky” emails, such as those labelled as Catch-All or Accept-All, you’re not alone. Here’s why these tools can’t validate risky emails effectively:

1. Understanding Catch-All Email Servers:

Catch-All email servers are configured in a specific way that makes them difficult to validate using traditional SMTP-based methods. These servers are set up to accept all emails sent to any address within their domain, regardless of whether the address is valid or not. This means that when an SMTP validation tool attempts to verify an email address, a Catch-All server will “catch” or accept the connection, regardless of the email’s validity.

2. How Catch-All Servers Bypass SMTP Validation:

The primary function of SMTP-based validation tools is to perform a series of checks to determine if an email address is valid. This process, known as the SMTP handshake, involves querying the recipient’s mail server to see if it will accept the email.

However, Catch-All servers have been specifically configured to bypass this form of validation. When an SMTP tool tries to validate an email address on a Catch-All server, the server responds positively to all SMTP handshakes. This behavior makes it impossible for the tool to distinguish between valid and invalid addresses, as the server does not provide a definitive response about the existence or validity of the email address. As a result, the tool can’t accurately label the email as Valid or Invalid.

3. The Limitations of SMTP Tools:

Because of how Catch-All servers operate, SMTP-based validation tools often hit a dead end when trying to validate these risky email addresses. They can only tell you that the server accepted the connection but can’t provide any further insights into whether the email is actually deliverable. This leads to these emails being classified as Catch-All or Risky by most validation tools, leaving you without a clear indication of their validity.

4. Why Scrubby is Different:

Scrubby goes beyond standard SMTP checks and incorporates advanced techniques to handle risky and Catch-All emails. Unlike other tools that stop at the SMTP handshake, Scrubby performs additional checks to evaluate the potential deliverability of these email addresses, providing you with more reliable results.

By using Scrubby, you can better understand which risky emails are worth keeping and which ones might pose a risk to your sender reputation. This allows you to maintain a cleaner email list and improve your overall deliverability and campaign performance.

Choose Scrubby for Complete Email Validation

Scrubby is uniquely designed to handle the complexities of Catch-All and risky emails, giving you the insights you need to make informed decisions. Don’t let the limitations of standard SMTP tools hold you back. Experience the power of Scrubby’s comprehensive validation today and ensure your emails reach the right inboxes.