Summary
Experts, marketers, and email deliverability documentation agree that the use of fake profiles and Indian IPs is a problematic trend in cold outreach. A significant portion of contact information obtained may be fabricated, and the practice of using Indian IPs, often for cost-saving, is common. This lack of transparency undermines sender reputation, triggers spam filters, and negatively impacts deliverability. Establishing genuine connections through personalization and maintaining a consistent IP address aligned with the target audience are crucial for successful and ethical cold outreach. Authenticating domains and verifying sender identity are essential for preventing phishing and improving email deliverability.
Key findings
- Prevalence of Fake Profiles: A significant number of names in cold outreach lists are likely fake.
- Common Use of Indian IPs: Using Indian IPs for cold outreach to Western audiences is a common practice, often driven by cost considerations.
- Negative Impact on Reputation: Fake profiles and mismatched IP locations damage sender reputation, leading to spam filtering.
- Best Practise: Email security standards outline that a user must verify sender identity and IP addresses
Key considerations
- Prioritize Authenticity: Ensure the contact information used is as authentic as possible, avoiding generic profiles.
- Maintain Consistent IP Locations: Use IP addresses that align with your target audience's geographic region to build trust and improve deliverability.
- Focus on Personalization: Personalize cold emails with specific details to increase engagement and avoid being perceived as spam.
- Embrace Transparency: Honesty and transparency in outreach campaigns are essential for building trust and improving sender reputation
- Ensure Email Security Standards: You must verify sender identity and IP addresses to avoid phishing or spam issues.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
The prevalence of fake profiles and Indian IPs in cold outreach emails is a concerning trend. Marketers are observing an increase in the use of fake profiles with generic names and stock photos, coupled with the practice of using Indian IPs to reduce costs, particularly when targeting Western audiences. This lack of transparency and authenticity can severely damage sender reputation, trigger spam filters, and hinder email deliverability. Personalization and genuine connection are key to successful outreach, and deceptive tactics are strongly discouraged.
Key opinions
- Fake Profiles: There is an increase in the use of obviously fake profiles in cold outreach emails, often with generic names and stock photos.
- Indian IPs: Using Indian IPs for cold outreach targeting Western audiences is a common practice, primarily driven by cost reduction.
- Negative Impact: The lack of transparency and authenticity due to fake profiles and unusual IP addresses can negatively impact sender reputation and trigger spam filters.
Key considerations
- Transparency: Transparency and authenticity are crucial for building trust and avoiding being flagged as spam. Avoid deceptive tactics such as using fake profiles.
- Personalization: Personalization and genuine connection are essential for successful cold outreach campaigns. Generic or impersonal emails are likely to be ignored or marked as spam.
- Sender Reputation: Maintaining a positive sender reputation is vital for email deliverability. Practices like using fake profiles and inconsistent IP addresses can harm your reputation.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Marketing Over Coffee shares that a lack of transparency and authenticity is a red flag in cold outreach and using fake profiles is an immediate deterrant.
29 Jul 2023 - Marketing Over Coffee
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit shares that he's seen an increase in obviously fake profiles used for cold outreach, often with generic names and stock photos.
1 Jan 2024 - Reddit
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Experts agree that cold outreach often involves fake profiles and misleading IP addresses. A significant portion of contact names received may be fabricated. Furthermore, using IP addresses from unexpected geographical locations undermines sender reputation, which is critical for email deliverability. Transparency and honesty in cold email campaigns are paramount for building trust and evading spam filters.
Key opinions
- Prevalence of Fake Profiles: A large percentage of names obtained from cold outreach are likely not real.
- IP Address Impact: Using IP addresses from unexpected locations negatively affects sender reputation and deliverability.
- Importance of Transparency: Deceptive tactics such as fake profiles and unusual IP addresses are cautioned against.
Key considerations
- Authenticity: Ensure the data you are using to send emails is as authentic as possible
- Consistency: Maintain a consistent IP address strategy to prevent deliverability issues.
- Ethical Practices: Prioritize honesty and transparency in all cold email communications to build trust.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares that she is pretty sure that 90% of the names she gets from cold outreach are not real.
3 Sep 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that maintaining a consistent IP address and sender reputation is essential for deliverability and using IPs from unexpected geographic locations can negatively impact your sender reputation.
24 Mar 2024 - Spamresource.com
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Email deliverability documentation from various providers (SendGrid, Mailchimp, Google, Microsoft, and Spamhaus) uniformly emphasizes the critical role of IP reputation and sender identity. Using IP addresses inconsistent with the target audience's region or sending from unauthenticated domains can trigger spam filters and negatively impact sender scores. The documentation also discourages using fake sender information, as it violates email security standards and increases the risk of being marked as spam. Verifying sender identity and adhering to best practices for preventing phishing are crucial for maintaining a positive sender reputation and ensuring email deliverability.
Key findings
- IP Reputation Matters: IP reputation is crucial for email deliverability. A poor IP reputation can lead to emails being marked as spam.
- Inconsistent IPs Hurt Deliverability: Using IPs from regions different from the target audience can negatively impact sender reputation and trigger spam filters.
- Fake Sender Information is Discouraged: Using fake sender information or unauthenticated domains violates email security standards and can lead to emails being marked as spam.
Key considerations
- Maintain Consistent IPs: Ensure that the IP addresses used for sending emails are consistent with the target audience's region.
- Authenticate Domains: Use authenticated domains to verify sender identity and improve email deliverability.
- Avoid Suspicious Patterns: Avoid suspicious sending patterns that trigger spam filters, such as sending from inconsistent IP locations or using fake sender information.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft Support outlines email security standards, including the importance of verifying sender identity and IP addresses, as well as best practices for preventing phishing and spam.
1 Jul 2024 - Microsoft Support
Technical article
Documentation from Spamhaus explains the importance of IP reputation, and using IPs that are not consistently linked to your brand could harm your sender score.
27 Mar 2025 - Spamhaus
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