# The risky status URL: https://email-validation.org/docs/statuses/risky/ Updated: 2026-10-20 > Documentation index: https://email-validation.org/llms.txt **Risky** means the address may accept mail, but sending to it can hurt your bounce rate or your sender reputation. It costs 1 credit. The action depends on the reason: some risky addresses are worth a careful send, others should be removed. ## How to decide | Reasons | Typical decision | |---|---| | `catch_all`, `role_catch_all`, `forwarding_domain` | The mailbox cannot be confirmed. Keep these in a separate segment, send to them only if they matter to you, and watch bounces. | | `role_account` | A shared inbox such as info@ or sales@. Fine for business replies; often unwanted in marketing lists. | | `disposable`, `toxic`, `suppressed`, `possible_trap`, `spamtrap`, `complainer` | Remove. These addresses rarely lead to a customer and can damage your sender reputation. | The `action` field already applies this table: `send_with_caution` or `remove`. ## Catch-all domains A catch-all domain accepts mail for every address during a check, real or not, so no check can tell whether a specific mailbox exists without sending a message. When the domain has a strong record of delivering mail, we return `deliverable` with the reason `trusted_catch_all` instead. More in [Catch-all emails explained](https://email-validation.org/guides/catch-all-emails/). ## Reasons ### Catch-all domain `catch_all`: The domain accepts mail for every address, so this specific mailbox cannot be confirmed. - **Recommended action:** Send with caution. Send only if the address matters to you, and watch bounces and complaints for this segment. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `catch_all@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "catch_all@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "catch_all", "action": "send_with_caution", "account": "catch_all", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": true, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Role address `role_account`: The address belongs to a team or function, such as info@ or sales@, rather than to one person. - **Recommended action:** Send with caution. Send only if the address matters to you, and watch bounces and complaints for this segment. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `role_account@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "role_account@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "role_account", "action": "send_with_caution", "account": "role_account", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": true, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Role address on a catch-all domain `role_catch_all`: A team or function address on a domain that accepts mail for every address. - **Recommended action:** Send with caution. Send only if the address matters to you, and watch bounces and complaints for this segment. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `role_catch_all@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "role_catch_all@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "role_catch_all", "action": "send_with_caution", "account": "role_catch_all", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": true, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": true, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Disposable inbox `disposable`: The address comes from a throwaway mail service whose inboxes are usually abandoned quickly. - **Recommended action:** Remove. Remove the address from your list or ask for another one. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `disposable@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "disposable@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "disposable", "action": "remove", "account": "disposable", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": true, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Linked to abuse `toxic`: The address is associated with spam, abuse or automated sign-ups. - **Recommended action:** Remove. Remove the address from your list or ask for another one. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `toxic@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "toxic@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "toxic", "action": "remove", "account": "toxic", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Forwarding-only domain `forwarding_domain`: The domain only relays mail to mailboxes elsewhere, which hides whether the final mailbox exists. - **Recommended action:** Send with caution. Send only if the address matters to you, and watch bounces and complaints for this segment. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `forwarding_domain@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "forwarding_domain@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "forwarding_domain", "action": "send_with_caution", "account": "forwarding_domain", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### On do-not-contact lists `suppressed`: The address appears on widely shared do-not-contact lists, often after earlier bounces or complaints. - **Recommended action:** Remove. Remove the address from your list or ask for another one. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `suppressed@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "suppressed@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "suppressed", "action": "remove", "account": "suppressed", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Possible trap `possible_trap`: The address follows patterns that traps often use, so mailing it can damage your sender reputation. - **Recommended action:** Remove. Remove the address from your list or ask for another one. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `possible_trap@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "possible_trap@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "possible_trap", "action": "remove", "account": "possible_trap", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Spam trap `spamtrap`: The address is believed to exist only to catch senders who mail lists without consent. - **Recommended action:** Remove. Remove the address from your list or ask for another one. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `spamtrap@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "spamtrap@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "spamtrap", "action": "remove", "account": "spamtrap", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```
### Frequent complainer `complainer`: The person behind this address often reports legitimate mail as spam. - **Recommended action:** Remove. Remove the address from your list or ask for another one. - **Credit:** 1 credit when it comes from a completed check. - **Test address:** `complainer@sandbox.email-validation.org` (free)
Example response ```json { "email": "complainer@sandbox.email-validation.org", "status": "risky", "reason": "complainer", "action": "remove", "account": "complainer", "domain": "sandbox.email-validation.org", "did_you_mean": null, "free_email": false, "role_account": false, "disposable": false, "catch_all_domain": false, "mx_found": true, "mx_record": "mx.sandbox.email-validation.org", "smtp_provider": "other", "domain_age_days": 3650, "processed_at": "2026-11-02T09:30:00.000Z", "credits_used": 0, "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD" } ```