Reverse Email Lookup For Gmail

Reverse email lookup is precisely what it sounds like – a way to find out where the email is coming from using the email address instead of the listed name of the sender. Email scammers can try to fool email recipients with fake sender names, which is why seeing a familiar name on the email is not enough to assure that the email is legitimate. By looking up an email address used by the sender, you can glean insights that will help you identify fraudulent emails and learn more about the email’s true origin. Free and paid services exist that perform reverse email lookups.

Reverse email services check several factors to help you learn about the emails you receive in your Gmail account. These include:

• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) - this checks if the email is valid by sending a request to the email address domain. This is an older method – invented in 1982 - but still very much in use. Over the last 3+ decades, this method has undergone updates that have allowed it to stay effective and relevant.
• Email Profiling – this method shows whether an address was created for valid reasons or fraudulent purposes. Large numbers or different names on the email can signal fraud.
• Email Domain Type and Quality Verification - Email domains vary in quality. This relates to the process of opening an account. Some email services have easy systems when creating an account, and other services have more complex verification processes, which make them ultimately more secure. The age of the email address also gets verified by checking the domain registration date.
• Checking Social Media Networks - with social media profiling, email addresses are checked to see if they are also registered on any media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. This can provide additional information and ultimately verify that an email address is valid.
• Browser Extensions that Provide Sender Information with Every Email – think of this as a built-in solution for all emails received. Once you subscribe, it provides information about each email’s sender. There is a browser extension service specifically for Gmail called Contact+.

Checking an email address through a reverse email lookup is a good idea if you question the validity of an email communication. There are likely multiple emails in your inbox every day that you are sure are spam emails, and you can report and block them without doing a reverse email lookup. The messages that are giving you second thoughts are the ones that could benefit from a more in-depth look that a reverse email lookup can provide.

A myriad of email lookup services performs reverse email lookups. Some of these specialize in Gmail, while most will allow you to use them to look up any email provider’s email addresses. Users need to select a service, sign up with them, which usually involves paying a small fee and then using the service’s portal to enter the email address that is being checked. The resulting output can include:

• The name of the sender.
• The location of the email server.
• The social media presence of the sender.
• Photographs of the sender.
• Other demographic information about the sender.

Email lookup services vary by cost and depth of searches. Consider the level of detail you need and select accordingly. The price ranges for reverse email lookup services can differ significantly, with more expensive services offering more advanced technology and additional conveniences, such as being built into an Internet browser for on-demand lookups.

Keeping email secure is a priority for all who do not want to deal with scams and unnecessary confusion. While the world of fraudulent emails keeps growing, Gmail continues to be a leader among free email services and offers excellent in-app security and filtering. To dig deeper for more insights, using a reverse email lookup service can help keep you secure and informed.