A catch-all (sometimes called "accept-all") is a domain that says "yes" to every address sent to it — even addresses that do not exist. Many companies set this up so that mail to a slightly-wrong address still gets through instead of bouncing.
Why this makes an address risky
Because the domain accepts everything, we cannot tell whether a specific mailbox is real. Asking the server "does this mailbox exist?" always gets a yes, even for made-up addresses. So we label these as risky and tell you the reason: "Accepts any address."
What should I do with them?
- If the address came from a trusted source (like someone who signed up themselves), it is probably fine to send to.
- If you are not sure where it came from, treat it with more caution — start with a small, careful send.
- Watch how these addresses behave on your next send and adjust from there.
Tip
Catch-all domains are very common at businesses. Seeing some risky results because of this is completely normal and does not mean your list is bad.
Did this help?
If you still have a question, we are happy to help.