One of the most frequently asked questions regarding e-mail is: "This person can’t send me e-mail because it keeps getting bounced back to them as undeliverable. What is wrong?"

In most cases the problem is that their mail server is improperly configured and has failed the BBS-LA security and SPAM checks in one way or another. In all cases, the BBS-LA mail server will return an error message describing why the mail was not delivered.

The most common reason for returning mail is that the sender’s mail server does not return a response to a reverse DNS (rDNS) lookup. If this is the case, the sender will be sent the following error message:

Unable to deliver message to remote mail host due to the following
failure: - 550 This system is configured to reject mail from 205.173.143.35
(DNS reverse lookup failed)

If the sender received this message, it means that their mail server’s IP address could not be confirmed using rDNS lookup, and our server rejected their mail as coming from a bandit or SPAM mail server. Using rDNS lookup as a way of confirming the legitimacy of mail servers is becoming an Internet standard. We estimate approximately 40% to 60% of mail servers use this method, and that this percentage will increase over time. Properly configured devices on the Internet should be able to be looked up both by name (DNS) and IP number (rDNS).

If you report this problem to us, we will contact the sender’s mail administrator and work with them to resolve the problem. In most cases, the sender’s mail administrator is happy to hear from us and the problem gets resolved quickly. Many times the sender’s mail server is properly configured and the problem is upstream and gets resolved with the sender’s ISP.

In rare cases, the sender’s mail administrator or the sender’s ISP is uncooperative or unable to make the correction. When this happens, the sender needs to set up a Hotmail or Yahoo e-mail account to send mail to you.

We cannot selectively apply or take off the security and SPAM filters by address. It’s all or nothing and the security and SPAM filters have to stay in place. There are serious consequences for operating an unsecured mail server ranging from being blocked (having all mail originating from the server rejected by all mail servers on the Internet) to monetary fines from upstream backbone providers or having backbone access to the Internet cancelled. In addition, the security and SPAM filters also protect you from receiving mail from hackers attempting to spread virus infected mail like the ILOVEYOU virus.

If someone sending you mail is getting their mail bounced back, please report it to me by sending me an e-mail at buffalo@bbs-la.com . Please include the sender’s e-mail address and also include the error message if you can.