What does 'account compromised and used to send spam' mean if SPF, DKIM, DMARC are verified?

This message indicates that Google believes emails are being sent directly from or through your Google Workspace account itself, rather than through your ESP like Klaviyo . Your authentication records confirm your ESP's legitimacy, but they don't cover all possible sending methods from your domain. It suggests an internal breach or a third-party app sending emails without proper oversight.

How can I check which applications have access to my Google Workspace account?

You can review third-party app access by logging into your Google Account , navigating to 'Security', and then 'Third-party apps with account access'. This section lists all applications that have OAuth tokens and permissions to send emails or access data on your behalf.

How can DMARC reporting help identify the true source of spam?

DMARC reports provide aggregated data on all emails sent using your domain, including those that pass or fail SPF and DKIM and their sending sources. By analyzing these reports, you can identify legitimate email streams, as well as unauthorized senders or misconfigured applications that are attempting to send mail as your domain, which could be causing the suspensions. Suped offers excellent DMARC monitoring to help you with this.

Why is my Google Workspace email account suspended when sending via Klaviyo, despite having SPF, DKIM, and DMARC verified? - Troubleshooting - Email deliverability - Knowledge base

It can be incredibly frustrating to have your Google Workspace email account suspended, especially when you've diligently set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records and confirmed they are verified. If you're sending a high volume of emails, say 3 million messages a month through

Klaviyo to 260,000 opt-in profiles, and still facing suspensions, it indicates an issue beyond basic email authentication. A low spam complaint rate of 0.1% also suggests the problem isn't solely about content or recipient engagement.

When the obvious technical configurations are in place, we need to dig deeper into Google's reasons for suspension. It's not uncommon for suspensions to arise from factors related to account security or unexpected sending activity that isn't directly controlled by your marketing platform. Let's explore the common culprits and effective troubleshooting steps to get your emails flowing smoothly again.

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Understanding the suspension message

When your

Google Workspace account is suspended, the first place to look is the Alert Center. This provides the most direct feedback from Google about why an account was suspended. You might see a message indicating the account "might have been compromised and is being used to send spam from within your domain." This specific phrasing points away from deliverability issues with

Klaviyo and towards an internal compromise or misconfiguration within your Google Workspace.

Typical suspension alert

The Alert Center message is crucial. It often states something like: "Account user@yourdomain.com disabled because

Google has become aware that it was used to engage in spamming." This clearly indicates that Google believes your Google Workspace account itself, not necessarily Klaviyo, is sending spam or experiencing suspicious activity.

This type of message suggests an issue with emails originating from or through the

Google Workspace account directly, rather than your ESP's (Email Service Provider's) sending infrastructure. This means even if your SPF and DKIM records are perfectly aligned for emails sent through Klaviyo, there's another channel where emails are being sent that Google flags as spammy.

Beyond standard authentication: deeper causes

The monthly recurrence of suspensions, specifically around the 15th, is a strong indicator of a scheduled or triggered event. It's unlikely that your

Klaviyo bulk sends are directly causing the Google Workspace suspension if your authentication is verified and complaint rates are low. The problem likely lies with another service or application that has access to your Google Workspace account and is sending emails directly through Google's SMTP servers.

Typical ESP sending setup

Emails are sent via

Klaviyo's infrastructure using your verified domain. Authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) point to Klaviyo, indicating authorized sending on your behalf. This usually leads to good deliverability when managed correctly.

Suspected unauthorized sending

Emails are sent directly through

Google's SMTP servers by a third-party application or an internal script. This sending activity might not be properly authenticated with your domain, or it could be sending content that Google flags as spam, leading to an account suspension. This is distinct from standard deliverability issues.

A common scenario involves third-party applications, such as a helpdesk system, CRM, or a sales automation tool, that have OAuth access to your Google Workspace account. These tools might send emails as the user directly, bypassing

Klaviyo's infrastructure. If these emails are sent in high volumes, to unengaged recipients, or contain flagged content, Google could interpret this as spamming behavior and suspend the account.

Investigating unauthorized sending

To identify the source of the problematic sending, you need to isolate the activity. A key step is to change the sender email address in your

Klaviyo setup to a different one. If the suspensions stop, it confirms the issue was indeed with the original

Google Workspace account, not your marketing emails from Klaviyo.

Next, audit all third-party applications or services connected to that specific

Google Workspace account, checking their permissions. Helpdesk applications, for example, often send automated replies that could contribute to volume and trigger filters if not configured properly. Review the OAuth tokens and access granted to various apps in your Google account settings. Disconnecting any suspicious or unused apps is a good start.

Steps to review third-party app access in Google Workspace

1. Log in to your Google Account.
2. Go to 'Security' in the left navigation panel.
3. Under 'Third-party apps with account access', click 'Manage third-party access'.
4. Review each app and remove access for any unfamiliar or unnecessary ones.

Setting up DMARC reporting is also critical. While you mentioned it's verified, ongoing monitoring provides visibility into all email streams claiming to be from your domain, not just those through

Klaviyo. Suped's DMARC monitoring tool can help you analyze these reports to uncover any unauthorized sending sources that might be impacting your domain's reputation.

Proactive monitoring and prevention

Maintaining a healthy sender reputation requires ongoing vigilance. Beyond checking the Alert Center and auditing third-party apps, establishing clear practices for all email sending from your domain is vital. This includes using dedicated subdomains for different sending purposes, like mail.yourdomain.com for

Klaviyo and your primary domain for direct communications.

Regularly consult Google Postmaster Tools for insights into your domain's reputation and deliverability. While your spam complaint rate of 0.1% is good, other metrics like IP reputation and domain reputation can provide further clues. Ensure that you are adhering to

Google's guidelines for bulk senders, even for emails that aren't sent through your

Klaviyo platform directly.

If you've implemented all suggested steps and the suspensions continue, contacting

Google Workspace support remains the most direct route to get a definitive answer and resolution. Be prepared to provide detailed information about your sending practices, DMARC reports, and any third-party integrations.

Summary

While having SPF, DKIM, and DMARC verified is fundamental to email deliverability, it doesn't guarantee immunity from account suspensions, especially when external factors within your Google Workspace ecosystem are at play. The recurring nature of your suspension points to a systemic issue, likely an automated process or an external application's sending behavior that

Google deems abusive.

By systematically investigating your Google Workspace Alert Center, auditing third-party application access, changing the problematic sender address for testing, and utilizing comprehensive DMARC monitoring, you can pinpoint the exact cause of your suspensions. This proactive approach ensures not only the continuity of your email campaigns but also the long-term health of your email deliverability.

Views from the trenches

Best practices

Regularly check your Google Workspace Alert Center for suspension notifications.

Utilize subdomains for different sending purposes, like marketing emails via Klaviyo.

Monitor DMARC reports consistently to identify unauthorized email sending activities.

Review linked applications and tools within Google Workspace for unexpected sending permissions.

Maintain a clean, engaged email list to prevent high spam complaint rates.

Common pitfalls

Assuming SPF, DKIM, and DMARC verification alone guarantees inbox placement.

Ignoring Google Workspace's internal alerts about suspicious account activity.

Using the same primary domain for both transactional and bulk marketing emails.

Failing to thoroughly audit third-party apps connected to Google Workspace accounts.

Not distinguishing between deliverability issues and account security suspensions.

Expert tips

Change the problematic sender email address to isolate the suspension cause.

Leverage Google Postmaster Tools for detailed insights into sending reputation.

Contact Google Workspace support directly for specific suspension reasons and remedies.

Implement strict security policies for OAuth-linked applications to prevent compromise.

Consider dedicated IP addresses for high-volume email sending to control reputation.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says: The Google Workspace account suspensions, despite verified authentication, are concerning, and the recurring nature suggests a deeper, possibly automated, issue.

2023-12-15 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says: Check the Google Workspace Alert Center immediately for the specific suspension reason, as this is the most direct feedback.

2023-12-15 - Email Geeks