How to validate an email address

Hi,

Is there something on the net or an application that can be used to validate an email address? E.g. [email protected] -> I want to see if this is a valid email address. I don't want just check the validity of the domain - I know it exists - I want check the validity of the email addie.

let me know.

Thanks greatly.

Send an email to it, and if it bounces back then you will know if it's anygood or not.

Or give this site a look over and see if it helps..
http://www.web-wise-wizard.com/javas...l-address.html

If not then just "google search"
http://www.google.com/search?q=valid...+email+address

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Or give this site a look over and see if it helps..
http://www.web-wise-wizard.com/javas...l-address.html

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Thanks T - was looking for something similar.

I know that is one way of doing it ..but the idea is to do it discreetly. I don't want the person to find out that I am checking the email addie. His email addie is going to be part of an investigation.

I know DNSstuff.com offer a facility where I can check DNS and MX records but that is only done at domain level. I need something that I can use that would perhaps run a query on that mailserver and let me know if the address exists.

At this point he knows who I am but I don't want him to have my email addie.....yet.

almost like

telnet mail.mailserver.net 25
rcpt to: [email protected]where
from: [email protected] -> this server allows relay(mail admin stupid if it works)
data
...
...

something like this...is it possible? could it work?

sometimes guys give you fake addresses and without having to go the legal route of getting a subpoena to get the info from the ISP...i just want to validate it. it is one of ISP domains but like they going to tell me if the address is real.

Err... Think about it for a second.. A feature like that would be a godsend for spammers..

ooops! ...now that is something i didnt think about ....nice one... :)

guess there is no way to do this then...

Send him some mail that looks like spam [but not enough to get flagged], from a free account at gmail or hotmail, and see if that bounces back. He wont know it is you.

Well,

The basic problem as I see it is that proving that an e-mail account exists actually proves very little.

All you know is that someone has opened an account in that name, with that provider.

You don't know:

1. Are the account details genuine, or is it a bogus account set up for nefarious purposes? Hey, so long as they get paid, most e-mail providers don't give a damn?

2. Is the account under the control of the person who actually set it up? Or has it been hijacked?

3. Has it just been exposed through a public library, school, or insecure wireless and just "used". The actual owner would be unaware of this, if obvious evidence were deleted.

Unless you are in law enforcement, I would be very careful about what you are thinking of doing.

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..but the idea is to do it discreetly. I don't want the person to find out that I am checking the email addie. His email addie is going to be part of an investigation.

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I know several parts of the World where that would get you in very deep drek :eek: and others where it would just get you the title of "the deceased".............assuming that they ever find the body, that is.

Be Careful

You can do a lookup on SOME email servers to see if the email address is valid, on others it doesnt work. So like teabag said they only real way to check is to see if it bounces back an email or not.

http://www.wormly.com/test_smtp_server