This site utilizes JavaScript to function correctly. Looks like it's disabled on your browser. Please enable it for your best experience.

For instructions on enabling JavaScript, click here

Skip to main content

Just Host Web Hosting Help

Email Spoofing

A common form of spam is Email Spoofing where a spammer will modify the email headers "From" field to something other than the actual original sender.

What is Email Spoofing?

Email spoofing is when the email header's "From" line is modified to something other then the actual original sender. A common symptom of someone spoofing your email address is getting tons of spam return-messages (like Failure Notification or Mailer Daemon) for emails you never sent or receiving spam emails from yourself which you did not send. Generally, you will never see spoofed emails. However, if the email spoofer happens to configure his "From" header to be a real email box, the bounce back notification will come back to your mailbox.

The way email spoofers are tracked down is from the server that is used to authenticate for originally. The server being used gets reported to ISPs and Email Realtime Black Lists (RBLs) and the spoofing emails stop.

How to Prevent Email Spoofing

By creating an SPF record servers will verify the user has permission to send mail from that domain using the domain's DNS. For more information on how to set this up, see SPF Records.

Knowledgebase Article 321,008 views bookmark tags: email spam spoof spoofing


Was this resource helpful?

Did this resolve your issue?


Please add any other comments or suggestions about this content:





Recommended Help Content

Sender Policy Framework records, or SPF records are a type of DNS record used to identify which mail servers should be allowed to send email from a certain domain name.
Knowledgebase Article 119,768 views tags: dedicated email prevent spf spoof spoofing vps

Sender Policy Framework records, or SPF records are a type of DNS record used to identify which mail servers should be allowed to send email from a certain domain name.
Knowledgebase Article 257,086 views tags: email prevent spf spoof spoofing

Prevent Spam These steps will help you prevent users and robots from posting Spam on your WordPress blog. Inside the WordPress Dashboard, select Settings in the navigation bar on the left. From the G
Getting Started Article 220,779 views tags: comment scroll spam wordpress

Related Help Content

Explanation of how spam works and common prevention tips
Knowledgebase Article 292,103 views tags: email spam webmail

Explanation of what SpamAssassin is and how it works
Knowledgebase Article 238,587 views tags: assassin email spam

SPAM is a brand of canned mystery meat made by Hormel Foods Corporation. It was first introduced in...oh wait, different kind of spam—but still related to email spam because they share similar characteristics, like nobody wants it or ever asks for it. Email spam is electronic junk mail or more gen
Knowledgebase Article 135,444 views tags: filter spam spamassassin spamexperts

Windows Live Mail combines the ease of use of Outlook Express, with the speed of Windows Live. This tutorial will show you how to setup your email account in Windows Live Mail.
Video "How-to" Tutorial 313,579 views tags: email emailclient mail

How does Spam Hammer work?
Knowledgebase Article 212,377 views tags: email filter hammer spam

General Instructions on how to use the spam folder with webmail
Knowledgebase Article 244,609 views tags: email spam spamassassin webmail

Getting spammed? What does Just Host recommend?
Knowledgebase Article 530,183 views tags: email filter spam

There are a large number of emails or spam that need to be deleted from an email account.
Knowledgebase Article 320,556 views tags: delete email emails empty inbox spam trash

** Google ad credits are only available to customers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom at this time.

¹ VAT (Value Added Tax) is not included in our advertised price and will be charged separately and itemized on invoices and billing information. Standard VAT rates based on EU Member State regulations may apply. Learn more.