550 SPAM error message – flagging YOUR email?

May 28, 2016

Why am I getting this error?

To help in the global battle of ever-increasing SPAM, hosting company’s have implemented spam detection procedures on all emails prior to leaving their email servers. Each email is evaluated and rated according to spam rules to determine how likely they are to be actual spam. Those that fail the test are returned to the original sender with the error message 550 This message was classified as SPAM and may not be delivered (please see the email below). If you are receiving a bounceback with this error, then the email you sent has not passed the outbound filter.

Why are you doing this on outbound emails?

Although email servers review all incoming email and evaluate it against their own filters, hosting company’s have begun screening outbound emails to help preserve the reputation of their server’s IP addresses. This is a safety measure enabled to protect all clients being hosted in the Shared Server environment. Once a mail IP gets enough SPAM complaints against it, it will be reported to a company that maintains a blacklist. Any email server that subscribes to that particular service will then block any incoming email from that IP address. After too many times on a blacklist, any email sent from that hosting company’s servers have the chance of automatically being delivered to SPAM folders, regardless of the IP address of the server. Also, since many of the hosting company’s customers are on shared servers, we feel it is not fair for your emails to be blocked due to the SPAMMING activities of other customers. Outbound SPAM evaluation is a proactive measure to prevent blacklisting and keep your email server up and running.


Common solutions to the error

Solution #1 – Enable SMTP Authentication in Outlook

If you are using the Microsoft Outlook email client, not having SMTP Authentication will cause several points to be added to the SPAM score. This can cause emails that otherwise would be allowed through to be classified as SPAM. 

Solution #2 – Evaluate email content (See chart below)

As our outgoing servers are using a SPAM evaluation software set at the most lenient levels, it is difficult for your emails to be tagged as SPAM and prevented from going out unless they have a lot of features of a SPAM message. If you are getting caught by the filter, evaluate both the title and body content of the message to ensure there are few, if any, references to popular SPAMMING terms. Also be sure not to include multiple live links to several other websites as this can affect the email rating with the SPAM software.


List of most common terms that trigger spam filters

$$$

Free membership

Potential earnings

4U

Free money

Print form signature

Accept credit cards

Free offer

Print out and fax

Act now! Don’t hesitate!

Free preview

Produced and sent out

Additional income

Free priority mail

Profits

Addresses on CD

Free quote

Promise you …!

All natural

Free sample

Pure profit

Amazing

Free trial

Real thing

Apply Online

Free website

Refinance home

As seen on

Full refund

Removal instructions

Auto email removal

Get It Now

Remove in quotes

Avoid bankruptcy

Get paid

Remove subject

Be amazed

Get started now

Removes wrinkles

Be your own boss

Gift certificate

Reply remove subject

Being a member

Great offer

Requires initial investment

Big bucks

Guarantee

Reserves the right

Bill 1618

Have you been turned down?

Reverses aging

Billing address

Join millions of Americans

Risk free

Billion dollars

Laser printer

Round the world

Brand new pager

Limited time only

S 1618

Bulk email

Long distance phone offer

Safeguard notice

Buy direct

Lose weight spam

Satisfaction guaranteed

Buying judgments

Lower interest rates

Save $

Cable converter

Lower monthly payment

Save big money

Call free

Lowest price

Save up to

Call now

Luxury car

Score with babes

Calling creditors

Mail in order form

Section 301

Can’t live without

Marketing solutions

See for yourself

Cancel at any time

Mass email

Sent in compliance

Cannot be combined with any other offer

Meet singles

Serious cash

Cash bonus

Member stuff

Serious only

Cashcashcash

Message contains disclaimer

Shopping spree

Casino

MLM

Sign up free today

Cell phone cancer scam

Money back

Social security number

Cents on the dollar

Money making

Special promotion

Check or money order

Month trial offer

Stainless steel

Click below

More Internet traffic

Stock alert

Click here link

Mortgage rates

Stock disclaimer statement

Click to remove

Multi level marketing

Stock pick

Click to remove mailto

Name brand

Stop snoring

Compare rates

New customers only

Strong buy

Compete for your business

New domain extensions

Stuff on sale

Confidentially on all orders

Nigerian

Subject to credit

Congratulations

No age restrictions

Supplies are limited

Consolidate debt and credit

No catch

Take action now

Copy accurately

No claim forms

Talks about hidden charges

Copy DVDs

No cost

Talks about prizes

Credit bureaus

No credit check

Tells you it’s an ad

Credit card offers

No disappointment

Terms and conditions

Cures baldness

No experience

The best rates

Dear email

No fees

The following form

Dear friend

No gimmick

They keep your money — no refund!

Dear somebody

No inventory

They’re just giving it away

Different reply to

No investment

This isn’t junk

Dig up dirt on friends

No medical exams

This isn’t spam

Direct email

No middleman

University diplomas

Direct marketing

No obligation

Unlimited

Discusses search engine listings

No purchase necessary

Unsecured credit/debt

Do it today

No questions asked

Urgent

Don’t delete

No selling

US dollars

Drastically reduced

No strings attached

Vacation offers

Earn per week

Not intended

Viagra and other drugs

Easy terms

Off shore

Wants credit card

Eliminate bad credit

Offer expires

We hate spam

Email harvest

Offers coupon

We honor all

Email marketing

Offers extra cash

Weekend getaway

Expect to earn

Offers free (often stolen) passwords

What are you waiting for?

Fantastic deal

Once in lifetime

While supplies last

Fast Viagra delivery

One hundred percent free

While you sleep

Financial freedom

One hundred percent guaranteed

Who really wins?

Find out anything

One time mailing

Why pay more?

For free

Online biz opportunity

Will not believe your eyes

For instant access

Online pharmacy

Winner

For just $ (some amt)

Only $

Winning

Free access

Opportunity

Work at home

Free cell phone

Opt in

You are a winner

Free consultation

Order now

You have been selected

Free DVD

Order status

Your income

Free grant money

Orders shipped by priority mail

Free hosting

Outstanding values

Free installation

Pennies a day

Free investment

People just leave money laying around

Free leads

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