How can I stop someone using my email address in spam replies?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 27 Jul 2025
Updated 17 Aug 2025
7 min read
It is frustrating when you discover your email address is being used by spammers, especially when it appears in spam replies. This often leads to a deluge of unwanted messages in your inbox, making it difficult to discern legitimate communications from junk. I understand the immediate impulse is to stop it outright, but the nature of email spoofing makes direct prevention challenging.
The core issue usually isn't that your actual email account has been compromised, but rather that your email address has been spoofed. Spammers forge the From address in their emails, making it look like the message originated from you or your domain. When recipients reply to these spam messages, the replies then get sent to your legitimate inbox.
While completely halting the initial spoofed emails is often beyond our control, there are definitive steps you can take to mitigate the impact of these unwanted spam replies and bolster your email security. My focus here is to help you protect your inbox and your domain's reputation.
Understanding email spoofing
Email spoofing is when a spammer or malicious actor sends emails with a forged sender address. It's akin to putting a fake return address on a physical letter. The email itself isn't coming from your server or account, but the header information is manipulated to display your email address or domain as the sender. This technique is widely used in phishing scams and general spam campaigns.
The reason this is possible stems from the original design of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), which historically did not include robust authentication mechanisms. This loophole allows anyone to put almost any address in the From field without immediate verification. Fortunately, modern email authentication protocols have been developed to address this.
When your email address is used in spam replies, it's typically because the spammers set your address as the Reply-To address. This means anyone who clicks Reply to the spam email will unknowingly send their message directly to your inbox. This can lead to a significant increase in bounced emails and angry replies, potentially damaging your email reputation.
The challenge for you as the owner of the spoofed address is that you often only see the replies, not the original spam message. This makes it harder to gather forensic data about the campaign. However, understanding this mechanism is the first step toward effective mitigation and protecting your legitimate email communications.
Spoofing vs. account compromise
It's crucial to distinguish between email spoofing and your email account actually being compromised. While both can lead to unwanted emails, the remedies are different.
Email spoofing: This means someone is just faking your address in the "From" field. Your account is likely secure, but your address is being misused. You primarily receive replies or bouncebacks.
Account compromise: This means a malicious actor has gained unauthorized access to your email account and is sending emails directly from it. You would see these emails in your sent folder, and your account password might not work. If this is the case, immediately change your password, enable two-factor authentication, and check for any unauthorized forwarding rules.
Immediate steps for recipients
When you notice your email address is being used in spam replies, your first priority is to contain the influx of unwanted messages. While you can't stop the spammers directly, you can take action on your end to manage the situation and protect your inbox.
First, I recommend reviewing your email account for any signs of compromise. Check your sent items, login history, and any forwarding rules that may have been set up without your knowledge. If your account is truly compromised, changing your password and enabling multi-factor authentication are critical first steps.
For the spam replies themselves, leveraging your email provider's features is key. I advise creating filters to automatically move these unwanted replies to a specific folder or to trash them. Look for common subject lines or keywords in the reply emails to make your filters effective. Keep in mind that blocking the individual senders of replies might be a continuous effort, as they are not the original spammers.
If you are receiving replies to spam you didn't send, it's because the spammer has included your address as the Reply-To address. This is a common tactic. You can report phishing attempts to your email provider, like Google, or to consumer protection agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission. If your domain is being used for phishing, understanding what to do if it's used for phishing can provide further guidance.
Recipient actions
Check account security: Confirm your email account is not compromised. Change passwords and enable MFA.
Create filters: Set up rules to automatically move or delete emails with suspicious subject lines or content.
Report abuse: Report the spoofing instances to your email service provider, especially if you can get the original message. This can help them update their spam filters.
Monitor spam folder: Occasionally check your spam or junk folder for legitimate emails that might have been miscategorized.
Domain owner actions
Implement DMARC, SPF, DKIM: These email authentication protocols are the best defense against spoofing (more details below).
Monitor reports: Regularly review DMARC reports to identify sources of unauthorized emails using your domain.
Educate users: Inform your team members about email spoofing and phishing tactics to prevent them from interacting with suspicious messages.
Protecting your domain from spoofing
While immediate actions help manage the current situation, the most effective long-term strategy for stopping someone from using your email address (or domain) in spam replies involves implementing robust email authentication protocols. These technical measures tell receiving mail servers whether an email claiming to be from your domain is legitimate.
I always recommend setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your domain. SPF (Sender Policy Framework) specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to your emails, allowing recipients to verify the email hasn't been tampered with. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) builds on SPF and DKIM, telling receiving servers how to handle emails that fail authentication (e.g., quarantine or reject them) and provides reporting on email authentication results.
Implementing DMARC with a strong policy (like p=reject) is the most robust way to protect your domain from being spoofed. When a spammer tries to send an email using your domain, and you have DMARC in place, recipient servers will check if the email aligns with your SPF and DKIM records. If it doesn't, they will follow your DMARC policy, which can result in the email being rejected or sent to spam, preventing those unwanted replies from ever reaching your inbox.
While email authentication is crucial, remember that no single solution offers 100% protection against all forms of email misuse. Spammers constantly evolve their tactics, but a layered approach combining strong authentication with diligent monitoring and user awareness provides the best defense. This includes being aware of how your email address might end up on a blacklist or blocklist inadvertently.
Example DMARC record
A basic DMARC record published as a TXT record in your DNS looks like this:
I recommend starting with p=none to monitor reports without impacting legitimate email, then gradually moving to p=quarantine and finally p=reject as you gain confidence.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Implement a DMARC policy (p=reject) for your domain to instruct receiving servers to reject unauthorized emails.
Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify and address any legitimate email streams that are not properly authenticated.
Educate your team about email spoofing and phishing to prevent them from interacting with suspicious messages.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication for all email accounts.
Keep an eye on your domain's email reputation and promptly address any signs of misuse or blocklisting (or blacklisting).
Common pitfalls
Believing that simply changing your email password will stop spoofing (it won't, unless your account is actually compromised).
Ignoring DMARC reports, which contain crucial data about unauthorized use of your domain.
Failing to implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, leaving your domain vulnerable to impersonation.
Clicking on links or replying to suspicious emails, which can validate your address to spammers.
Not checking your email account's sent folder for any unauthorized emails, indicating a compromise.
Expert tips
If you're only getting replies, the original spammer likely used your address as the 'Reply-To' header, not the 'From' header, making it harder to trace the source.
Often, spammers will use a random 'Reply-To' address for a single campaign, so the problem might fizzle out on its own.
When investigating, search your own spam and quarantine folders for original spam messages with matching subject lines; you might have been on the target list.
Even if you report it to an ESP or IP owner, they might not act without sufficient evidence of abuse.
The best defense is proactive: set up DMARC with a 'p=reject' policy for your domain to ensure spoofed emails are rejected.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they will try reporting the issue to the ESP and IP owner, even if only replies are received.
2023-11-01 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says it is extremely unlikely that anyone in a position to do anything about the spam being sent is going to care, even with a full copy of the mail. He advises focusing on mitigating unwanted replies.
2023-11-01 - Email Geeks
Next steps for your email security
Dealing with your email address being used in spam replies is a common, yet frustrating, experience. While it's difficult to completely prevent malicious actors from spoofing your address, you have significant control over how those actions impact you and your domain.
By prioritizing your account security, implementing smart inbox filters, and crucially, deploying robust email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, you can drastically reduce the flow of unwanted replies and safeguard your domain's reputation. Proactive measures are always the best defense in the ever-evolving landscape of email security.
