How to Block Disposable Email Addresses: The Email Marketer’s Guide

Man smiling as he successfully blocks disposable emails from his email listZeroBounce ImageZeroBounce Image

You’ll find disposable emails in almost any email list. They’re free, easy to find and offer some anonymity in a less private internet world. But they also wreak havoc on email deliverability. However, we’re here to help.

In this guide, you’ll learn the following:

What is a disposable email?

A disposable email is a temporary email address that will automatically expire after some time.

These “fake emails” or “burner accounts” only last for short periods. These can range from thirty minutes to a few days, depending on the site used to create them.

During this time, the owner can receive mail just as they would in their primary inbox. Some temporary email services allow users to send outgoing messages.

However, after the timer expires, the address self-destructs and is no longer valid.

Graphic listing the three types of disposable emails: throwaway, alias, and forwarding

The purpose of a disposable email

People use temporary email addresses to protect their privacy and avoid spammy email content.

In our study of over six billion email addresses, 1.32% were do-not-mail addresses. Temporary emails are among these, with over 5 million burner accounts on average entering our detection and validation tools. These types of email accounts are no minor issues.

People may create and use fake emails for sites they don’t trust. If your site is unsecure or your content is spammy, you may receive some sign-ups with disposable addresses until they can verify that you’re a trusted sender.

Others may exclusively use burner accounts outside of their trusted network. It’s a great way to claim those free offers without opening your inbox to unwanted email campaigns.

How disposable emails impact your email marketing

Like many anti-spam tactics, they’re excellent for the average person. However, they are harmful to your email marketing and your sender reputation.

Here’s what can happen when disposable emails linger on your email list.

Your bounce rate increases

Even if a disposable email address initially shows as “valid,” it will eventually self-destruct. After that, all of your future messages will bounce.

The general rule is to keep your bounce rate below 2%. Your bounce rate will climb rapidly if your email list contains invalid or fake emails.

Your sender score will plummet

Every email domain has a reputation. This sender score is a number that illustrates your emailing behaviors and habits to other internet service providers (ISP). A high score indicates a trusted sender, whereas low scores indicate spammers.

Factors like your bounce rate and email list health directly impact your sender score. If you’re emailing disposable addresses, your bounce rate climbs, and your reputation suffers. You’ll start noticing more bounces and spam placements as ISPs are less likely to trust you.

You might lose your email service provider

You need to maintain a strong sender score to continue using your ESP. Each service has guidelines regarding acceptable sending practices. This includes your allowed bounce rate, sending frequency, and email list hygiene.

Throwaway addresses eventually become invalid. That translates to poor list health, more bounces and a lousy reputation. If this pattern continues, your ESP may suspend your account.

Frustrated man at his computer reviewing the impacts of disposable emails on his email marketing campaigns

Additional strategies for disposable email filtering

You can’t stop users from signing up for burner accounts. However, you can help prevent disposable email registration on your forms by ensuring your brand appears trustworthy.

To help quell privacy and spam concerns of new potential customers, be sure to review the following:

  • Secure your website and demonstrate how you protect data
  • Provide users with a way to unsubscribe
  • Keep a steady sending frequency
  • Send people the email content they sign up for
  • Improve content quality and eliminate anything that looks or sounds spammy

Frequently asked questions

A burner email account is a temporary address that only functions for a short period. People use these to receive incoming mail while preserving their privacy and avoiding sharing their personal email addresses.

Users create disposable email addresses using third-party websites or tools. These sites generate a unique address containing random words, characters and numbers.

While the address is active, users can receive and sometimes send email messages. After a specified amount of time, the address will self-destruct. Afterward, all future messages sent to the fake email address bounce as it is no longer active or valid.

You can detect disposable email addresses by using an email validation service or API. It can identify active or expired throwaway accounts so that you can delete them or block them from entering your email list.

You can block them from your list by implementing an email validation API. Connecting this tool to your registration forms lets the validator assist you with disposable email blocking. If an email is valid, the registration form will accept it. If it is invalid or harmful, it will reject the address and block it from entering your email list.

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