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I want to implamant this bounce handling protocol in .NET but after I researched abit I found out that the basic classes that come with .NET don't support envelope assignment required by VERP

Is there a work around or another method?

Kevin Reid
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David MZ
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1 Answers1

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You can definitely implement VERP using System.Net.Mail, just generate a unique from address for each to address, then when the message bounces, your catch-all email account will receive it and you will know what to address to invalidate.

Here's a step-by-step example:

  1. You will send an email to someuser@somedomain.com.
  2. You generate a random unique from address from a GUID, for example: F9168C5E-CEB2-4faa-B6BF-329BF39FA1E4-customers@mydomain.com
  3. You keep a dictionary or database table that associates the from address above with the to address.
  4. You receive a bounce email to a catch-all inbox where the recepient is F9168C5E-CEB2-4faa-B6BF-329BF39FA1E4-customers@mydomain.com, therefore...
  5. You invalidate someuser@somedomain.com in your DB.
Diego
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  • Isn't there an issue with envelope from and the standard from address of the email, the System.Net.Mail can't touch the envelope from, will this be an issue with spam filters? – David MZ Apr 08 '12 at 21:58
  • This is not a practical answer, especially if you are developing a professional mailing system. Recipients often handle spam and have message rules based on who the email was From. You can not have it being different each time. – Talon Oct 08 '13 at 08:40
  • @Talon: Craigslist works this way, as many other systems. Plus, the main goal is to validate the customer address; whether the message goes to spam is irrelevant. – Diego Oct 08 '13 at 16:41