If you’re experiencing phishing warnings when sending emails to Gmail addresses, this guide will help you understand why it happens and what steps you can take to resolve it. Phishing warnings in Gmail can occur for various reasons, often related to how Google interprets the email’s origin and reputation. Below, we'll cover common causes, testing steps, and suggested solutions to help your emails reach the inbox safely.
Common Causes of Gmail Phishing Warnings
When emails sent through our platform trigger phishing warnings in Gmail, it’s typically due to one of the following reasons:
Recipient Reporting: If previous recipients marked similar messages as phishing, Gmail may apply this warning to your emails. Even a few reports can prompt Google to add a “This message seems dangerous” alert.
Trust & Authentication Differences: Gmail differentiates between emails sent directly from Gmail and those sent via third-party applications (such as our platform using OAuth authentication). Google may trust emails sent directly from Gmail more than those sent through external platforms.
Testing the Issue
To troubleshoot Gmail phishing warnings, follow these steps:
Prepare Two Email Versions:
One with your usual template and signature.
Another with a simple subject line and basic content, no signature.
Send Test Emails:
Send both email versions to accounts on Gmail, as well as other email clients like ProtonMail and Microsoft Outlook, to compare results.
Review Results:
Note if the warning appears only in Gmail or if other email clients mark the emails as spam or phishing.
If you find that only Gmail is flagging the emails as phishing, this usually confirms that the warning is isolated to Gmail’s network.
Steps to Resolve Gmail Phishing Warnings
Mark as “Looks Safe”: Instruct recipients who trust the email to select the “Looks safe” option in Gmail. This action can help signal to Google that the email is legitimate and reduce the likelihood of future warnings.
Encourage Recipients to Mark Emails as Safe: If you have contacts who frequently receive your emails, ask them to mark the messages as safe. Google’s algorithms can adjust based on this behavior over time.
Consider Domain Changes: If phishing warnings persist and affect deliverability, switching to a different sending domain may help. This can be a last-resort solution, but it can reset Google’s view of your domain’s reputation.
Additional Resources
For more on Gmail’s phishing warnings and avoiding similar issues, check out these resources:
Conclusion
Phishing warnings are designed to protect users but can sometimes misclassify legitimate messages. By following the steps above, you can reduce the chances of your emails triggering these warnings and improve their deliverability to Gmail inboxes. If you have further questions or need additional support, feel free to reach out to our team.