Why are legitimate GSuite emails going to spam after a domain impersonation attempt and DMARC policy change?

Summary

Following a domain impersonation attempt and subsequent DMARC policy adjustments, legitimate GSuite emails often land in spam folders due to a confluence of factors. These include a tarnished sender reputation, improperly configured SPF and DKIM records, sudden shifts to stricter DMARC policies, DNS propagation delays, and failure to authorize all legitimate mail streams. The recovery strategy necessitates meticulously reviewing and bolstering email authentication mechanisms, gradually adjusting DMARC policies while monitoring deliverability rates, initiating IP warming procedures, and vigilantly tracking user engagement metrics. Allowing ample time for DNS changes to propagate and for email receivers to recalibrate their filters is also vital, alongside regularly scrutinizing DMARC reports to promptly address authentication failures and fine-tune SPF/DKIM records. It's crucial to remember that email filters and authentication protocols require time to adapt to changes, and a hasty or incomplete implementation can exacerbate delivery issues.

Key findings

  • Reputation Degradation: Domain impersonation attempts severely damage sender reputation, leading to legitimate emails being flagged as spam.
  • Authentication Deficiencies: Incorrect, incomplete, or missing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations cause authentication failures, resulting in spam placement.
  • Abrupt Policy Changes: Sudden transitions to stricter DMARC policies (e.g., from 'none' to 'quarantine' or 'reject') can inadvertently block legitimate communications.
  • Propagation Latency: DNS propagation delays after modifying authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) cause intermittent delivery issues.
  • Authorization Omissions: Neglecting to authorize all legitimate email sources (including GSuite) in SPF and DKIM records leads to deliverability problems.
  • Processing Delay: Email systems and filtering algorithms require time to process and adjust to changes made to domain authentication records.

Key considerations

  • Authentication Scrutiny: Thoroughly review and reinforce email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to ensure accurate configuration and authorization of all legitimate sources.
  • Gradual Policy Implementation: Implement DMARC policies incrementally, closely monitoring deliverability rates and making gradual adjustments as needed to avoid unintended consequences.
  • Reputation Management: Actively monitor sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and promptly address any identified issues impacting deliverability.
  • Warm-Up Strategy: Implement an IP warming strategy to rebuild sender reputation gradually, particularly after a domain impersonation event.
  • Content Optimization: Optimize email content to enhance engagement, avoid spam trigger words, and provide clear opt-out options to improve sender reputation.
  • Time Allowance: Allow sufficient time (typically up to 48 hours) for DNS changes to propagate fully across the internet and for email systems to adapt to new configurations.
  • Report Monitoring: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify authentication failures promptly and adjust SPF/DKIM records accordingly to maintain optimal deliverability.
  • One Change At A Time: When troubleshooting, only implement one change at a time and test to ensure that change has not negatively affected email deliverability before implementing any other changes.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

After a domain impersonation attempt and a subsequent DMARC policy change, legitimate GSuite emails often end up in the spam folder due to several reasons. These include damaged sender reputation, incorrect or incomplete email authentication settings (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), sudden or drastic DMARC policy changes, DNS propagation delays, and the failure to authorize all legitimate mail streams. Recovering from this situation involves carefully reviewing and tightening email authentication, monitoring deliverability rates and adjusting DMARC policies gradually, warming up IP addresses, and closely monitoring user engagement metrics. It's also important to allow sufficient time for DNS changes to propagate and for email receivers to adjust their filters.

Key opinions

  • Damaged Reputation: Domain reputation is often negatively impacted by impersonation attempts, leading to deliverability issues even for legitimate emails.
  • Authentication Issues: Incorrect or incomplete SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings can cause legitimate emails to be flagged as spam.
  • Sudden Policy Change: A sudden shift to a stricter DMARC policy (e.g., 'quarantine' or 'reject') can inadvertently block legitimate emails.
  • DNS Propagation Delays: DNS propagation delays following SPF, DKIM, or DMARC changes can cause intermittent deliverability problems.
  • Unverified DKIM Setup: Failure to include all sending sources, like GSuite, in SPF records will negatively affect deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Review Authentication: Carefully review and tighten email authentication settings (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to ensure all legitimate sources are properly authorized.
  • Gradual Policy Changes: Adjust DMARC policies gradually and monitor deliverability rates to avoid unintended consequences.
  • Monitor Reputation: Monitor sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and address any identified issues.
  • IP Warming: Consider warming up IP addresses to rebuild sender reputation, especially after impersonation attempts.
  • Content Engagement: Focus on creating highly engaging content and avoid spam trigger words to improve sender reputation.
  • DNS Propagation Time: Allow sufficient time (up to 48 hours) for DNS changes to fully propagate across the internet.
  • Monitor DMARC Reports: Closely monitor DMARC reports to identify authentication failures and adjust SPF/DKIM records accordingly.
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid suggests improving sender reputation by ensuring consistent sending patterns, authenticating your email with SPF and DKIM, and gradually increasing email volume. Also monitor your sending reputation with tools like Google Postmaster Tools to identify and resolve any issues that may be affecting deliverability.

January 2023 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests making one change at a time, waiting for it to propagate in DNS, then testing to see if it makes a difference, and repeating if necessary. He also recommends clearly describing the problem first, not just the backstory.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange suggests that the domain's reputation might have been negatively impacted due to the impersonation attempt. After implementing stricter DMARC policies, legitimate emails are now affected. They recommend closely monitoring feedback loops, checking blacklists, and ensuring consistent email authentication to rebuild the domain's reputation.

March 2023 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps mentions that DMARC reports are crucial to identifying authentication failures and potential deliverability issues. Post-impersonation, use DMARC reporting to monitor which email sources are failing authentication checks and adjust SPF/DKIM records accordingly.

October 2023 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog shares that after a domain impersonation attempt, it’s crucial to review and tighten email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). A sudden policy change (like moving to 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject') can cause emails that previously landed in the inbox to be filtered as spam. It's essential to monitor deliverability rates and adjust DMARC policies gradually.

January 2025 - Neil Patel's Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that emails may end up in spam due to a damaged sender reputation after a domain impersonation. Also, incorrect authentication settings (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) could flag legitimate emails as suspicious. They also suggest warming up your IP address and closely monitoring bounce rates and user engagement metrics.

April 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester highlights that DNS propagation delays can cause intermittent email deliverability issues after making changes to SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records. Allow sufficient time (up to 48 hours) for DNS changes to fully propagate across the internet before troubleshooting deliverability problems.

August 2023 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit mentions that a sudden change in DMARC policy (e.g., from 'none' to 'quarantine' or 'reject') can cause legitimate GSuite emails to be marked as spam, especially if DKIM is not properly configured for all sending sources. They suggest verifying DKIM setup for GSuite and ensuring consistent authentication across all sending servers.

April 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that creating highly engaging content, avoiding spam trigger words, and providing clear opt-out options can help improve sender reputation and ensure that legitimate emails reach the inbox. Monitor user engagement metrics (opens, clicks, replies) to identify any issues affecting deliverability.

April 2021 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost suggests warming up IP addresses to improve sender reputation and avoid emails landing in the spam folder. Gradual IP warm-up helps build a positive sending history. This can be especially important if the domain has been used for impersonation or spamming activity.

September 2022 - SparkPost

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

After a domain impersonation attempt and DMARC policy change, legitimate GSuite emails may end up in spam due to a combination of factors including improper DKIM setup on the Google account, filters needing time to recognize changes in authentication, DNS propagation delays, negative Google/domain reputation from the impersonation, and failure to authorize all legitimate mail streams. Experts recommend ensuring DKIM is properly configured, allowing time for filters and DNS to update, and verifying all legitimate sources are authorized.

Key opinions

  • DKIM Configuration: Improper or missing DKIM setup for GSuite can lead to deliverability issues.
  • Filter Adaptation Time: Email filters require time to recognize and adapt to changes in DKIM signatures and overall authentication configuration.
  • DNS Propagation: Changes to DNS records related to authentication take time to propagate across the internet.
  • Reputation Damage: Domain impersonation attempts can negatively impact the Google/domain reputation, leading to spam filtering.
  • Authorization Gaps: Forgetting to authorize all legitimate mail streams (including GSuite) can cause delivery failures after tightening DMARC.

Key considerations

  • Verify DKIM: Ensure DKIM is properly configured for the Google account to authenticate outgoing emails.
  • Patience is Key: Allow sufficient time (a week or two) for filters to recognize changes and for DNS to propagate.
  • Monitor Authentication: Continuously monitor email authentication and adjust SPF/DKIM settings as needed.
  • Review Auth Sources: Double-check all legitimate email sources and ensure they are authorized in SPF and DKIM records.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that since all the forged mail came from Google, there might be a negative Google/domain reputation that needs time to be fixed now that DKIM is correctly signing emails.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that because a significant change was made to the domain's authentication records, the machines need time to process the changes.

June 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that the user needs DKIM setup properly on the Google account.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that the filters need time to see that things have changed and for the DKIM signature to establish a reputation, especially after recent DNS changes.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that rapidly changing authentication configurations can negatively impact delivery. After an impersonation attempt and a DMARC policy shift, give receivers time to adjust their filters. Suddenly blocking emails can lead to filtering problems. It also advises you check your allow lists.

April 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says it will be hard to diagnose the problem without seeing the domain and headers. Recommends waiting a week or two and checking again to see if things improve.

January 2025 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that common DMARC deployment problems can arise from forgetting to authorize all legitimate mail streams. Post-impersonation, tightening DMARC without properly configuring SPF/DKIM for all legitimate sources (including GSuite) can lead to deliverability issues.

September 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

After a domain impersonation attempt and subsequent DMARC policy change, legitimate GSuite emails often end up in spam due to incorrect or incomplete email authentication settings (SPF and DKIM). Implementing DMARC, particularly with a quarantine or reject policy, can cause emails failing DMARC checks to land in spam. This often arises from misconfigured SPF records that don't include all authorized sending sources or missing DKIM signatures on outgoing GSuite emails. Reviewing DMARC reports to identify authentication failures and ensuring all legitimate sources are properly authenticated is crucial.

Key findings

  • DMARC Impact: DMARC implementation, particularly with stricter policies, can initially cause legitimate emails to be marked as spam.
  • Authentication Errors: Incorrectly configured SPF and DKIM records are primary reasons for emails failing DMARC checks.
  • SPF Configuration: SPF records not including all authorized sending sources result in SPF check failures.
  • DKIM Signatures: Missing or misconfigured DKIM signatures can lead to authentication failures for GSuite emails.

Key considerations

  • Review DMARC Reports: Regularly review DMARC aggregate reports to identify sources failing authentication.
  • Correct SPF Records: Update SPF records to include all legitimate sending IP addresses and domains.
  • Configure DKIM: Ensure DKIM signing is properly configured for all GSuite outgoing emails.
  • Authentication Verification: Verify that all email sources are properly authenticated with SPF and DKIM.
  • Policy Review: Ensure the DMARC policy is not overly strict (e.g., 'p=reject' initially) to avoid unintended consequences.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that implementing DMARC can initially cause some legitimate emails to be marked as spam, especially if the SPF and DKIM records are not correctly configured or if the policy is too strict (e.g., 'p=reject'). It also suggests checking DMARC reports to identify legitimate sources that are failing authentication.

January 2025 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from RFC covers the standards for DKIM, which provides an email authentication mechanism. Post-impersonation, GSuite emails failing authentication may indicate a DKIM misconfiguration or missing DKIM signature for those emails. Ensure that DKIM signing is properly configured for all GSuite outgoing emails.

August 2024 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) is essential to ensure that legitimate emails are not marked as spam. After a domain impersonation attempt and DMARC policy change, it's crucial to verify that all email sources are properly authenticated and that the DMARC policy is not overly strict, which can cause legitimate emails to be quarantined or rejected.

November 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from RFC details that SPF is used to prevent sender address forgery. If legitimate emails are failing SPF checks after a DMARC policy change, it indicates that the SPF records are not properly configured to include all authorized sending sources. Review and update the SPF records to include all legitimate sending IP addresses and domains.

June 2021 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from dmarc.org explains that setting a DMARC policy to quarantine can cause legitimate emails to land in the spam folder if those emails fail DMARC checks (SPF and DKIM). This often happens when some email sources are not properly authenticated. Review your DMARC aggregate reports to see which sources are failing authentication and adjust your SPF and DKIM records accordingly.

April 2023 - dmarc.org