Gmail is one of the most popular email services known today. Developed by Google, a Gmail account can allow direct access to other google services like Youtube, Playstore, Google Drive, Google Maps, and many more.
Having a strict policy for Gmail’s Privacy and Security, it always warns it’s users with a prompt ‘Be Careful with This Message’ for possible email spoofing or suspicious links and malware. However, the warning turns out false sometimes.
If you are continuously seeing this error text in your Gmail, though coming from a reputable sender, and wondering how to get rid of this annoying issue – then you are at the right place.
In this article, I have pilled up all the tested methods to solve your problem once and for all.
So, let’s leap in.
Here’s a complete guide on how to Fix Address Not Found Error in Gmail
Why does Gmail Be Careful with This Message Error Occur?
Gmail shows this yellow-colored anti-spoofing warning to alert the recipients as it identifies some emails as risky, containing malicious links, phishing sites, or fake ads.
This warning is further explained by texts like-
- Gmail could not verify the abcxyz.domain email.
- This may be a spoofed message. Gmail can not verify the actual source of the sender.
- This email claims to come from abcxyz.domain, but the reply will go to another domain.
The main reason for Gmail to prompt this error text is failing to verify the authenticity of the receiving email. Sending emails through an SMTP server having an unauthorized domain or inadequate characteristics can cause this issue. Furthermore, a blunder in setting up your contact form can cause essential emails to store in the spam folder.
More factors can generate the error message.
Here are several reasons for which Gmail gives the ‘Be Careful’ warning:
- Same domain in the From address and the To address.
- Different addresses in the Reply to email and the From email.
- Spam Filter.
- Compromised Email address.
- Fake Email account.
- Email containing Marware.
- Email redirecting to Spammy Sites.
- Error from Google filters verifying the email source.
When Gmail fails to verify the domain of your email address, you will find a Question mark icon with your address. As a sender, your email will still be delivered, but the warning issue can create problems for you.
Here are the problems you will face when Gmail gives you the warning text:
- You can not find their important emails from a trusted address.
- A reliable email address can be considered fake.
- Clicking the Report Spam and Report Phishing buttons mistakenly can create difficulties in delivering emails.
So, it’s wise to solve this problem as soon as possible. Keep on reading the article below to learn about the methods to fix the error.
How to Fix ‘Be Careful with This Message’ error in Gmail
Google gives us no option to turn off the warning entirely. Fortunately, there are a few workarounds by which you can reduce the alarm and save yourself from the trouble of this error.
When you are fully assured that the error came from a well-known and safe sender, you can add that sender’s address to your contact to prevent the error from further showing up. Furthermore, clicking the Looks Safe button in the yellow error window can temporarily fix your problem.
As a sender, you can configure SPF and DKIM authentication so that there is no error text given at the receiver’s end. Creating a filter for your trusted sender or turning off the reply tracking are a few other ways to prevent Gmail from prompting the error.
Let’s discuss each solution in detail below.
Here are the best ways to fix the warning message in Gmail:
1. Check Domain SPF Records
It’s a must to authorize email servers through the domains of SPF record settings. For clear understanding, Google uses SPF (Sender Policy Framework) to detect and verify fake sender emails as an email authentication system, and without a proper domain with an SPF record, emails are marked as dangerous.
When emails are sent using 3rd party email applications, they are sent through the internet provider’s servers rather than the usual SMTP server. As ISP servers are not authorized through SPF domains, Gmail gives a careful warning to the recipient.
Here are three easy fixes to tackle this issue:
- Send email using the official Gmail App.
- Send email through mail.google.com using a browser.
- Add SMTP settings in your 3rd party email sender apps.
Related guides how to Transfer Contacts to Gmail Accounts
2. Authenticate Domain via DKIM
Using custom domains to send emails may result in popping the careful warning to your receiver. Authenticating the custom domain via DKM solves this problem.
DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail) is a security system used by Gmail to ensure that emails are intact and not modified throughout the sending to receiving process. It adds a digital signature to your email to verify its source in the receiving server.
Here are a few things to check before you setup DKIM:
- Get the Log-in details for the domain provider.
- Check whether 2048 but DKIM keys are supported by domain.
- Go through DNS TXT records.
- Check Outbound Gateway Settings
Here are the steps to Setup DKIM for your domain:
- Find DKIM Keys from Admin Console.
- Add the keys to domain provider.
- Enable DKIM in Admin Console.
- Check DKIM signing is on.
It may take 48 hours to get your email verified through DKIM.
Here’s a complete guide on how to Recover your Gmail Account With a Phone Number
3. Add Sender to Contacts
When you get the anti-spoofing error from your familiar domains and organizations, the quick fix would be to add those email addresses to your contact.
This way, you can manipulate google into believing that these emails are safe and trustworthy, blocking it from popping similar anti-spoofing notices in the future.
Here are the steps to Add senders to your contact:
- Go to Gmail through App or Website.
- Click on Inbox and open your desired email.
- Hit the More Button
- Select Add to Contacts and choose your required email.
Now, check if the problem still persists.
4. Create Filter for Known Sender
You can create a custom filter option for your known contacts to prevent Gmail from displaying the error message and sending it to the spam folder.
Here’s how you can create custom filters for your familiar contacts:
- Open your required mail in the official Gmail app or Website.
- Hit the Menu option inside the email and choose Filter message like this.
- Select Create Filter.
- Mark Never send it to Spam and save.
5. Using Teaching Aids Given by Google
Google gives teaching aids in every warning it produces. The Careful warning provided by Gmail gives us a teaching aid option of Looks Safe. Marking a user safe proves that it is a reliable and secure email address.
Additionally, there are more options in the spam folder named Marked as Spam and Not Spam. These options allow you to choose safe emails from your spam folder carefully.
6. Remove Links from SIgnature
Gmail identifies links in the Signature block as spam and gives various phishing warnings. Just delete links from your signature, and you are good to go.
FAQs
Why do I see careful with this message warning in Gmail?
Spammy and suspicious emails containing malware and malicious attachments and ads bring up this warning.
How do I fix Gmail: careful with this message error?
To fix the issue, make sure your email has SPF domain records with DKIM authenticity, add known addresses to your contact, and create a custom filter for them.
How do I add a safe sender in Gmail 2022?
Go to Gmail and open your required email. Click on the More button and select Add to Contacts to add a safe sender.
How do I get rid of the yellow warning in Gmail?
To get rid of the yellow phishing warning, identify the email as Not Spam or simply delete suspicious emails.
What is a Phishing Email?
Emails that seem authentic but provide malicious links and attachments are known as Phishing Emails.
What is Anti-Spoofing warning in Gmail?
A warning text that allows users to report probable email spoofing and phishing or mark the sender as safe.
How to fix unauthenticated emails in Gmail?
To fix unauthenticated emails in Gmail, add a valid authentication header in your email or set up your email client to use authentication.
Final Thoughts
Sending emails using Gmail has become standard for professional and personal needs. Yet, it’s pretty annoying to find a careful warning for a recognizable email address.
To sum up, Gmail- be careful with this message warning issue can be resolved by checking domain SPF records, DKIM domain authentication, creating a filter for safe senders, or adding the safe sender to your contacts.
I am confident that this article has answered all your questions and removed the irritating yellow window of warning.
Feel free to comment and share suggestions in the comment box.
