This article will show you how to check if your domain or IP is Blacklisted. If your emails are not reaching recipients or are consistently being delivered to spam folders, your domain or the mail server IP address sending your email may have been added to an email blacklist. Blacklists, also known as blocklists, are used by email providers and anti-spam organisations to identify domains and IP addresses associated with spam, malware, or other unwanted email activity.
Being listed on a blacklist does not necessarily mean your domain has been compromised, but it can affect email deliverability. This guide shows you how to identify whether a blacklist may be affecting your email and when to contact Domains.co.za Support for assistance.
A domain or sending IP address may be blacklisted for several reasons, including:
- Sending large volumes of unsolicited email.
- A compromised email account sending spam.
- Malware on a website or server.
- Incorrect email authentication records.
- A poor sender reputation.
- Receiving a high number of spam complaints.
In many cases, email providers will include information about a blacklist in the bounce-back message returned when an email cannot be delivered.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Check Whether Your Domain May Be Blacklisted
If you suspect your email is being blocked:
- Review any bounce-back or delivery failure messages you receive after sending an email.
- Look for references to a blacklist, blocklist, SpamRBL, or another reputation service.
- If the message identifies a blacklist or you are unsure what it means, contact Domains.co.za Support for assistance.
NOTE:
Domains.co.za uses enterprise email filtering and multiple outbound mail servers. In many cases, our Support can determine whether the issue relates to your domain, a sending IP address, or another email authentication problem.
Contact Domains.co.za Support
If you believe your domain or email service has been blacklisted, contact the Domains.co.za Support team before attempting to request removal yourself.
When contacting Support, provide:
- Your domain name.
- The affected email address.
- A copy of the bounce-back or delivery failure message, if available.
- The approximate date and time the issue occurred.
Domains.co.za Support can investigate the issue, determine whether a sending IP address or domain has been listed, and advise on the appropriate next steps. If a delisting request is required, they can guide you through the process or handle it where applicable.
Check Your Domain Reputation
If you would like to perform your own checks, you can use reputable online reputation tools to see whether your domain appears on common blacklists.
Examples include:
- Spamhaus.
- MXToolbox Blacklists.
- VirusTotal.
- MultiRBL.
NOTE:
These tools are commonly used by hosting providers and email administrators to assist with diagnosing email deliverability issues. Results should be interpreted alongside other factors, such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication.
Additional Information
- A blacklist listing can affect email delivery even if your website continues to operate normally.
- Not every blacklist has the same impact, as different email providers use different blocklists.
- Correctly configured SPF, DKIM and DMARC records help improve your domain’s email reputation.
- If you use shared hosting, Domains.co.za manages the reputation of its shared email infrastructure and can investigate server-side issues where necessary.
- Regularly monitoring your email activity can help identify compromised accounts before they cause significant issues.
- After being removed from a blacklist, it may take some time for your email reputation to improve.
- If you are unsure whether a blacklist is affecting your email delivery, contacting Domains.co.za Support is the fastest way to determine the cause and identify the appropriate solution.
Login to Domains.co.za Account
1. Go to the Domains.co.za website Account Login page.
2. Enter your Email and Password and click the Sign In button.
3. You will see the Domains.co.za Dashboard, displaying the Manage Account menu on the left and your Account Information, Account Overview and Open Support Tickets on the right.
