Is Google Workspace support known to notify customers of blocklistings via email and should I trust it?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 26 Jun 2025
Updated 16 Aug 2025
7 min read
The question of whether Google Workspace support proactively notifies customers of blocklistings (or blacklists) on third-party lists is a common one that often raises eyebrows. While Google Workspace is a robust and secure email service, it is essential for administrators to understand how it communicates about potential deliverability issues.
My experience suggests that unsolicited notifications from Google Workspace regarding specific third-party blocklists via email are highly unusual. Google typically operates within its own ecosystem, providing tools like Google Postmaster Tools for domain owners to monitor their own sending reputation and deliverability performance.
Therefore, if you receive an email claiming to be from Google Workspace support notifying you about a blocklisting and directing you to an external, unofficial website for verification, your spidey senses should definitely be tingling. It is crucial to approach such emails with caution and verify their legitimacy.
How Google Workspace handles email deliverability notifications
When users experience email delivery issues, they often contact Google Workspace support. In such scenarios, Google's support agents are equipped to help diagnose problems using internal tools and official resources. They focus on issues within Google's network and often direct users to their admin console or <isBold>Postmaster Tools</isBold> for detailed insights and troubleshooting. This approach aligns with their commitment to cloud security and data protection services.
Notifications about specific third-party blocklistings are typically not part of Google's standard outbound communication. Their system is designed to provide you with the tools to monitor your domain and IP reputation, such as through <link href="/blog/how-to-improve-domain-reputation-using-google-postmaster-tools-2025-guide">Google Postmaster Tools</link>, rather than sending alerts every time your domain appears on a public blocklist (or blacklist). While they can help investigate malicious emails, this is usually in response to an inquiry.
The primary way Google Workspace ensures deliverability and security is through adherence to industry standards, proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and internal reputation algorithms. If your domain or IP is flagged by their internal systems, you'll see this reflected in your Postmaster Tools or receive specific notifications within the admin console, not typically a generic email referencing an external blocklist checker.
The anatomy of a suspicious blocklist notification
Consider an email that surfaced recently, purportedly from Google Workspace support (workspacesupport@google.com), informing a customer of a blocklisting. The email began with "Thank you for contacting Google Workspace Support." This opening line is a significant clue, indicating that the customer likely initiated the support ticket, rather than Google reaching out proactively. It suggests a support agent's response, not a system-generated alert.
The email then directed the user to a public blocklist checking tool, multirbl.valli.org, for more information. While this tool can be useful for general blocklist checks, it is not an official Google resource. Google typically guides users to its own secure platforms and documentation, such as their security whitepaper for Workspace, not third-party tools, for critical account information.
The advice to "remove the link from your email for the time being" is also quite generic and lacks the specificity you would expect from official technical support. While removing problematic links can sometimes resolve deliverability issues, an official Google notification would provide clear, actionable steps within the Workspace environment or direct you to specific settings within your admin console. These elements collectively suggest that while the email might be from a well-meaning first-tier support agent, it's not a standard, proactive blocklisting notification from Google's automated systems.
Beware of imposter notifications
Phishing attempts often mimic legitimate service providers. Be extremely cautious of any email asking for login credentials, directing you to non-official sites for "checks," or demanding payment to resolve a "blocklisting." Always verify the sender's identity and the authenticity of the domain.
Verifying the authenticity of blocklist alerts
Given the potential for misunderstanding or even malicious intent (like phishing) behind such emails, it is paramount to verify any claims of blocklisting. The first step should always be to confirm the email's authenticity.
Always check the email headers. Legitimate emails from Google will have proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication. If these checks fail, or if the sending IP or domain seems suspicious, it's a strong indicator of a fraudulent email. Also, check for a record in your official Google Workspace support portal, as genuine interactions are always logged there.
Your primary source of truth for Google Workspace deliverability issues should be your Google Workspace Admin console and Google Postmaster Tools. These platforms provide real-time data and official communications directly from Google about your domain's health and any broad-scale deliverability problems. If you are having issues with Gmail blocking your emails, you should consult these first, as they are how Google communicates important deliverability insights.
Inspecting email headers
Authentication-Results: google.com; dkim=pass (signature was verified) header.i=@yourdomain.com header.s=google; spf=pass (google.com: domain of support@google.com designates 209.85.220.69 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=support@google.com; dmarc=pass action=none header.from=google.com;
Characteristics of legitimate notifications
Source: From official Google domains (e.g., mail.google.com).
Destination: Directs to Google Admin console or official Google support pages.
Content: Specific, detailed issues, often with clear next steps within Google's ecosystem.
Action: No requests for credentials or payments to third parties.
Red flags in suspicious emails
Source: Unofficial or spoofed sender addresses.
Destination: Links to external, non-Google blocklist checkers or payment portals.
Content: Vague issues, urgent demands, or offers to "fix" blocklistings for a fee.
Action: Prompts for immediate action or payment outside of official channels.
Proactive measures for email deliverability
The best defense against deliverability issues, including potential blocklistings, is a proactive approach to your email program. Focus on maintaining a strong sender reputation, which is key to ensuring your emails reach the inbox consistently.
Properly implementing email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is fundamental. These records help mail servers verify that your emails are legitimate and prevent spoofing. Regularly review your DMARC reports to identify any authentication failures that could signal a problem. If your Gmail emails are being blocked, or you're seeing messages go to spam, issues with these protocols can often be the cause.
Furthermore, maintaining good list hygiene and avoiding poor sending practices are crucial. Sending to engaged recipients and regularly cleaning your email lists of inactive or invalid addresses reduces bounce rates and spam complaints, which are common reasons for ending up on an email blocklist (or blacklist). Staying informed about general email deliverability principles, such as those detailed in our guide on an in-depth guide to email blocklists, can significantly reduce your risk.
Maintain a healthy sender reputation
Monitor: Regularly check Google Postmaster Tools for insights into your email performance.
Implement: Use a strong DMARC policy to protect your domain and improve deliverability, as covered in our guide on DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.
Cleanse: Practice good list hygiene by regularly cleaning your email lists.
Avoid: Sending unsolicited emails or using purchased lists.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always verify the authenticity of any email claiming to be from a service provider, especially for critical alerts, by checking email headers.
Log into your official Google Workspace admin console or Postmaster Tools for verified information and official alerts.
Consult official documentation on Google's security practices and notification policies to understand their communication protocols.
Common pitfalls
Trusting external links provided in suspicious emails for blocklist checks or remediation without prior verification.
Assuming unsolicited emails from 'support' are legitimate without thorough investigation and cross-referencing with official channels.
Not checking your official account dashboards for direct messages or alerts from Google regarding your domain's health.
Expert tips
Educate your team on common phishing indicators, particularly for emails purporting to be from critical service providers.
Implement DMARC with reporting to gain valuable visibility into email authentication failures and potential spoofing attempts.
Regularly review your domain's sender reputation metrics using tools like Google Postmaster Tools for proactive issue detection.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they had a customer receive an email from workspacesupport@google.com prompting them to check multirbl.valli.org for blocklisting information, which raised suspicions.
April 5, 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that such an email, if genuine, might indicate a rogue support agent, suggesting it's highly unusual for Google.
April 5, 2023 - Email Geeks
Final thoughts on Google Workspace notifications
In conclusion, while Google Workspace provides robust email services and support, it is not common for them to send unsolicited email notifications about specific third-party blocklistings (or blacklists). Any such email should be viewed with suspicion and thoroughly verified through official channels, especially if it directs you to external websites or asks for unusual actions. Trust your Google Workspace Admin console and Google Postmaster Tools as your authoritative sources for domain reputation and deliverability issues.
Google Workspace support proactively notifies customers of blocklistings (or blacklists) on third-party lists is a common one that often raises eyebrows. While Google Workspace is a robust and secure email service, it is essential for administrators to understand how it communicates about potential deliverability issues.
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