Why is Senderscore reporting millions of emails being sent from my IP address when I can't account for them?

Email marketer from Quora answers that if your system is sending out emails that you can't account for, there's a chance someone has gained unauthorized access to your email marketing platform. Immediately change your passwords, review user activity, and contact support.

Email marketer from Reddit's r/emailmarketing forum responds that it could be due to a compromised email account or someone spoofing your email address. The suggestion is to check SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to ensure they are properly configured and to monitor account activity for any unusual logins or sending patterns.

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that the issue might be soft bouncing with aggressive retries. Many Mailbox Provider partners count each retry after a soft bounce as additional volume, leading to unusually high volume.

Email marketer from StackExchange shares that a possible reason for a server sending out spam is unpatched software or vulnerabilities. They recommend keeping all software up to date and scanning for malware regularly.

Email marketer from an email vendor forum responds that it is important to immediately investigate the source of the emails and secure any potentially compromised accounts. Also recommends reviewing user permissions and access logs, and contacting your email provider for assistance.

Email marketer from an Email Marketing Forum shares that it is important to scan all computers on your network for malware, as one infected machine can be responsible for sending large volumes of spam.

Email marketer from Litmus shares that you should immediately pause all email sending until the issue is resolved. Continuing to send emails will only worsen your IP reputation and damage deliverability.

Email marketer from Mailjet support explains that your IP could be listed on blocklists due to spam activity originating from your IP, even if you didn't send it directly. Recommend checking if the IP is on any public blocklists, investigate for potential compromises and reaching out to the blocklist providers to request delisting.

Email marketer from Neil Patel's blog shares that a large spike in sent emails without explanation can signify a hacked account being used for spam. They recommend immediate password resets, reviewing recent activity, and contacting your email service provider.

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that if both Senderscore and the ESP show the spike, and it’s no one at your organization sending it, then treat it as an account breach, lock down access hard, revoke API keys, and shut off access for all users. Also, look at the logs.

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, explains that if you're seeing unexpected email volume, it's crucial to review your account security practices, especially if you're using an ESP or shared IP space. She recommends enabling two-factor authentication, closely monitoring user access, and ensuring your email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is properly configured to prevent spoofing.

Expert from Spam Resource, Steve Linford, responds that the most common reason for unexpected email volume is a compromised system within your network. Hackers could be using your server to relay spam without your knowledge, and recommend running thorough security audits and patching any vulnerabilities immediately.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that DMARC isn’t tied to IP, so that shouldn't matter at all. Suggests either there’s some sort of compromise (leaked credentials being used) or the back end volume calculations are wildly off.

Documentation from RFC-Editor suggests the importance of securing your email relay server, and ensuring open relaying is disabled. Open relays can be abused to send spam from your IP address, severely damaging your sender reputation.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that sudden spikes in reported spam rates can negatively impact your sender reputation and lead to deliverability issues. Monitor your spam rates and ensure your sending practices align with Google's guidelines.

Documentation from Microsoft explains that a sudden increase in outbound email volume could indicate a compromised account or server. They recommend investigating user accounts, checking for open relays, and reviewing audit logs for suspicious activity.

Documentation from Amazon Web Services suggests reviewing your sending limits and quotas in your email service (e.g., SES). A compromised account may be exceeding your limits, indicating unauthorized sending activity.

Documentation from Spamhaus suggests checking for botnet activity on your network, as compromised machines can be used to send spam without your knowledge. Review network traffic for unusual patterns and scan systems for malware.

Documentation from Talos Intelligence highlights that a sudden drop or unusual activity reported by Sender Score can be caused by compromised credentials used to send unauthorized emails. It's crucial to analyze email logs and identify the source of the unexpected traffic, and secure all accounts.