James Freer jrjfreer@googlemail.com wrote:
I've recently adopted a greyhound and joined a forum which for some reason doesn't like emails from a aol.com address. They are not sure why and i would be grateful if someone could explain. Below is a quote from that email.
Summary: greyhoundhomer.org.uk is using a sender-verify callback and AOL is rejecting the verification calls because they set off anti-spam traps. As far as I can see, both mailservers are doing something wrong, but it only causes bounces when they interact. Sender-verify is harmful (making other mailservers work for you is rude) and AOL's anti-spam rejection tactics are harmful (too many false positives and not documented accurately).
Solutions: 1. get greyhoundhomer.org.uk to stop using sender-verify; 2. ban AOL addresses from the forums.
If I ruled the world, I'd do both.
----- Transcript of session follows ----- ... while talking to greyhoundhomer.org.uk.:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ keywords about where we got this info from
> RCPT To:sally@greyhoundhomer.org.uk
<<< 550-Callback setup failed while verifying jessejazza@aim.com <<< 550-Called: 64.12.138.120
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AOL's mailserver
<<< 550-Sent: initial connection <<< 550-Response: 554- (RTR:CH) http://postmaster.info.aol.com/errors/554rtrch.html <<< 550-554 Connecting IP: 65.98.59.114 <<< 550-The initial connection, or a HELO or MAIL FROM:<> command was <<< 550-rejected. Refusing MAIL FROM:<> does not help fight spam, disregards <<< 550-RFC requirements, and stops you from receiving standard bounce <<< 550-messages. This host does not accept mail from domains whose servers <<< 550-refuse bounces. <<< 550 Sender verify failed
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ keywords
550 sally@greyhoundhomer.org.uk... User unknown
This seems to be greyhoundhomer.org.uk reporting a response from aol.com's mailservers. http://postmaster.info.aol.com/errors/554rtrch.html suggests that they reject greyhoundhomer.org.uk because some AOL members complained about email from it, but I've found that to give false positives before. It beggars belief that AOL implemented a similar system to spamcop, but it looks like they did just that. It's still September!
Hope that helps,