Why are my emails triggering Gmail phishing warnings and how can I fix it?

Email marketer from Reddit explains that one reason for phishing flags could be the use of URL shorteners. These can mask the true destination of a link, which raises suspicion. Using the full, direct URL is better, and ensuring the linked content is trustworthy is essential.

Email marketer from Stack Overflow advises checking that your DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) setup is correct. Incorrect DKIM records can cause authentication failures, leading to phishing flags. Use online DKIM validators to verify your record.

Email marketer from Gmass responds that even with perfect authentication, sending too many emails at once can trigger warnings. Gmail is more forgiving to emails that are sent more like personal emails rather than bulk emails. Ensure your sending volume is reasonable and gradually increase it.

Email marketer from Email Geeks suspects that a sending domain or URL in the content might be associated with bad behavior. He also notes that deceptive coding, such as hiding content using HTML and CSS, can trigger phishing warnings.

Email marketer from Litmus explains that maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial. This includes ensuring your IP address and domain are not blacklisted. Monitor your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and promptly address any issues you find.

Email marketer from SuperOffice shares that providing clear and complete sender information is essential. Ensure your "From" name and email address are easily recognizable, and include a physical address in your email footer to comply with CAN-SPAM regulations.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that using reputable email testing tools and seed list testing platforms can help you to test the mail and check for common spam triggers before sending to the entire email list.

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that the content of your email can trigger phishing warnings. Avoid using scare tactics, urgent language, or anything that pressures the recipient into immediate action. Make sure your email is clear, concise, and professional.

Email marketer from Sendgrid shares that disabling click tracking and open tracking will affect the likelihood of emails going into spam/phishing as URL rewriting affects the trust.

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial. Phishing emails often lack these authentications, so implementing them can significantly reduce the likelihood of your emails being flagged. They advise verifying your sending domain and setting up these protocols correctly.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that linking to bad hosts or compromised machines are major causes of phishing warnings in Gmail. Also, linking to a page requesting PII in a suspicious manner can trigger warnings.

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that email content and link structure, especially linking to bad hosts, are likely causes for phishing warnings. He emphasizes the importance of alt tags and the need to put them back.

Expert from Email Geeks emphasizes the importance of user engagement for Gmail deliverability. If subscribers actively engage with emails, they are more likely to land in the inbox. Testing accounts are not representative of a real audience.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that compromised accounts are a common cause of deliverability problems and phishing warnings. She recommends identifying and remediating any compromised accounts on your sending infrastructure as a crucial step.

Expert from Word to the Wise discusses the importance of proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to prevent phishing attacks. He mentions that without proper authentication, email providers cannot verify the sender's legitimacy, leading to phishing warnings and other security measures.

Expert from Spam Resource emphasizes the importance of monitoring your domain reputation and IP reputation. They share that a poor domain or IP reputation can lead to phishing warnings and other deliverability issues. Regularly check your reputation with tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS.

Expert from Email Geeks elaborates on the bare hostname issue, explaining that if the visible text of a link is different from the actual URL (e.g., groups.google.com displayed but linking to ct.sendgrid.net), it's a significant negative signal and should be avoided.

Expert from Email Geeks states that using hostnames in the display text of a link while pointing to a different hostname in the `href` attribute will generate phishing warnings. She recommends avoiding this practice.

Documentation from DMARC.org describes that DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) allows you to set a policy for how receiving mail servers should handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. Implementing a strict DMARC policy (e.g., reject) helps prevent email spoofing and protects your domain's reputation.

Documentation from IETF describes that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is used to verify the domain name identity of an email sender and the integrity of the message. It provides a cryptographic signature that can be validated by the recipient's mail server, helping to prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks.

Documentation from Microsoft explains that Safe Links rewrites URLs in inbound email messages to point to Microsoft. When a user clicks a link in a message, the URL is rewritten and goes through Microsoft Defender for Office 365, checking against a list of malicious sites. If a link is deemed malicious, the user is warned. It also advises not creating URL redirects as this can also trigger warnings.

Documentation from RFC Editor details that SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records help verify that the sending mail server is authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. Ensure your SPF record accurately lists all legitimate sending sources to prevent unauthorized spoofing and reduce the chance of being flagged as phishing.

Documentation from Google Support explains that Gmail uses machine learning to identify phishing emails. Several factors contribute to this, including suspicious links, requests for personal information, and deceptive content. To prevent triggering these warnings, ensure your emails have clear and legitimate links, avoid asking for sensitive data, and maintain transparent communication.