How to Verify If an Email Address Is Valid

Send Email

Create a free email address with a service like Windows Live, Google or Yahoo. Do not plug in your personal data. In this case, you are trying to create a secure email address where you can test email addresses without giving potential scammers your personal email address.

Sign in to your account. Click the button to write a new message.

Paste the email address you are trying to verify into the "To" line. Add a subject and a simple message, like "Hello," if you choose.

Send the message. Wait several minutes to 1 day to see if the email bounces back as undeliverable.

Check Address Location

Go to the email you received from an unverified email.

Click on the "Options" for the email address.

Choose "View Message Source" You may simply need to click on an arrow below the email address that shows all the sender details.

Look for an IP address. It usually says "Received from" in front of this code that includes a series of 4 numbers with periods separating them. Look for something like "98.34.56.4."

Go to yougetsignal.com/tools/visual-tracert in your web browser.

Copy the IP address.

Paste it in the box next to "Remote Address." You can choose to run the trace by proxy with your computer or through the host site.

Look for the location of the IP address on the map. If it is not localized to your country, and you do not know anyone from the country, it is likely to be a company or potential scam email.

Email Verification Sites

Copy the email that you want to verify.

Go to http://verify-email.org.

Paste the email address into the empty box.

Click "Verify."

Look for the result underneath the Verify button. It should say "Result: OK." if the email address if valid.

Internet Search

Type the copied email address into a Google search query. Wait to see if any results pop up. If the email is associated with a social media account or website, it is likely to be valid.

Sign into Facebook. Go to the search bar at the top. Paste in the email address. Click on the magnifying glass. Look for any Facebook accounts that are associated with that email address. If you find one, it is likely to be valid.