Common Email Error Messages

Common email error messages.
 

1. Returned mail: user unknown

The original message was received at Mon, 9 Oct 2006 12:22:19 -0500
from smtp.cs.princeton.edu [128.112.136.72]

----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<username@cs.princeton.edu>

--- The transcript of the session follows ---
... while talking to smtp.cs.princeton.edu.:
>>> RCPT To:<username@cs.princeton.edu>
<<< 550 <username@cs.princeton.edu>... user unknown
550 <username@cs.princeton.edu>... user unknown
 

2. Warning: could not send message for past 14 hours

**********************************************
** THIS IS A WARNING MESSAGE ONLY **
** YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESEND YOUR MESSAGE **
**********************************************

The original message was received at Mon, 9 Oct 2006 12:22:19 -0500
from smtp.cs.princeton.edu [128.112.136.72]

----- The following addresses had transient non-fatal errors -----
<username@cs.princeton.edu>

----- Transcript of session follows -----
<username@cs.princeton.edu>... Deferred: Connection refused by smtp.cs.princeton.edu.
Warning: message still undelivered after 14 hours
Will keep trying until message is 5 days old

3. Returned mail: see transcript for details

The original message was received at Mon, 9 Oct 2006 12:22:19 -0500
from smtp.cs.princeton.edu [128.112.136.72]

----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<username@cs.princeton.edu>

----- Transcript of session follows -----
<username@cs.princeton.edu>... Deferred: Connection refused by smtp.cs.princeton.edu.
Message could not be delivered for 5 days
Message will be deleted from queue
 


1. Returned mail: user unknown

 

Problem:
This error could be caused by misspelling the email address or by sending mail to an email address that no longer exists.

Solution:
In order to correct this, try to send the message again and make sure that you verify the email address that you are using.

2. Warning: could not send message for past 14 hours

 

Problem:
A mail server (either a CS mail server or an external mail server like AOL, microsoft.com, etc) involved with the delivery of this message is experiencing unanticipated downtime.

Solution:
There is no need to resend the email as it will automatically be sent when the server becomes available.

 3. Returned mail: see transcript for details

 

Problem:
There may be a problem with either the sender's or the recipient's mail server that has prevented this email from being delivered.  This is also a very common tactic spammers use. Spammers will "spoof" your email address and then they send out mail to hundreds, if not thousands of people with your email address. They will pick a common domain, like google.com and send to john@google.com, mike@google.com, pete@google.com etc.. some will get sent, some will bounce. If they bounce google's system is triggered to respond to the email address it was sent from, which in this case is yours. The spammers get your email addresses from infected computers that have them stored in their address books and then they spoof your email addresses.  The other reason could be that someone is infected with a virus/spyware and is sending out messages based on the addresses stored in a personal address book. 

Solution:
In most cases you can safely ignore these messages.  If you are not sure or have more questions about a certain message please forward the entire message to CS Staff.

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