What to do with risky addresses

"Risky" means uncertain, not bad. Some risky addresses are perfectly fine; others are best left out. Here is how to decide.

Split them by reason

Open a finished list, click the Risky filter, and you will see your risky addresses split into four groups with a count on each. That split is the fastest way to decide, because each group needs a different answer.

• Catch-all domain — the domain accepts mail to every address, so nobody can confirm this one mailbox. Common on company domains and generally safe to send.
• Role address — a shared inbox like info@ or sales@. Real, but usually read by a team and slower to engage.
• Spam trap or abuse signal — the domain carries an abuse listing. Leave these out; sending to them can damage your sending reputation.
• No clear answer — the receiving server never gave a definitive response, often greylisting or a timeout. Unproven rather than bad.

The same four groups appear as tick boxes when you export a CSV or push contacts to a connected tool, so you can build a send-ready list without editing a spreadsheet. Catch-all and role addresses are ticked for you; the other two are not.

Think about the source

• From people who signed up themselves or whom you know? Usually safe to keep.
• From an old, bought, or unknown list? Be more cautious.
• Carrying a domain abuse warning? Review the source and leave it out if you are unsure.

A safe approach

If you want to keep some risky addresses, send to them in a small, separate batch first and watch the results. If they behave well, fold them back into your main list next time.