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Catch-all email detection, explained

If your verification tool says '99% valid' but you're still bouncing 15%, catch-all is the reason. Here's how it actually works.

What is a catch-all domain?

A mail server configured to accept every address regardless of mailbox existence.

Why SMTP probes return false positives

Catch-all servers always say '250 OK' even for fake addresses.

How we detect them

We test fake addresses against the same MX. If both succeed, the domain is catch-all.

What to do with catch-all leads

Send to them — but on a slow-send schedule and a separate sub-domain.

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