# The spamtrap status

URL: https://email-validation.org/docs/statuses/spamtrap/
Updated: 2026-10-20

> Documentation index: https://email-validation.org/llms.txt

**Spam trap** (`spamtrap`) means the address is believed to exist only to catch senders who mail lists without
consent. Mailing it can get your mail blocked or your domain listed, so the action is `remove`. It costs 1 credit.

## What to do

- Remove the address and do not mail it again.
- Look at where it came from. Traps usually enter a list through bought or scraped data, old lists that have not
  been mailed for a long time, or sign-up forms without a confirmation step.
- A related reason, `possible_trap` (status `do_not_mail`), marks addresses that follow patterns traps often use.

## Reasons

### 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)

<details><summary>Example response</summary>

```json
{
  "email": "spamtrap@sandbox.email-validation.org",
  "status": "spamtrap",
  "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": "2026-10-20T09:30:00.000Z",
  "credits_used": 0,
  "request_id": "req_7Hq2LmX9cV4bN8tR1zK6wD"
}
```

</details>