When you receive an email from an unknown or suspicious sender, it can be useful to know the geolocation of the person who originated the message. This is not only to confirm that it is indeed a human and not a machine, but also to verify that the email in question is legitimate and not an attempt at phishing or fraud. Let’s look at how you can responsibly and respectfully “track” an email address.
Can we locate the exact location of the email sender?
The answer to this frequently asked question is no, at least not precisely. You can possibly have an idea of the geographical area where the sender is located (country, city, region), but you have very little chance of getting their exact physical address. This kind of private detail is usually accessible only to operators, email providers, and authorities like the police who can, for example, obtain this information.
Some ways to find the sender of an email
1) Find the IP address
One of the ways to verify an email sender’s identity is to obtain their IP address.
Analyze email headers to see details about routing
Email headers contain valuable information about the path the email took to reach you, including mail servers, SMTP servers, ISPs used during transmission.
Use tools to geolocate an IP address
There are numerous online tools (both free and paid) that can geolocate an IP address. Typically, all you need to do is enter the IP address found in an email header, and then obtain information about the region, city, or possibly the approximate GPS coordinates of the sender.
2) Perform a reverse email search
This is a technique used to obtain information about an email sender by using their electronic address as a starting point. Unlike traditional search where you use a person’s name to find their email address, reverse email search allows you to discover details about the sender by using their email.
Several specialized online tools and services can help you find information about the sender such as their name, geographical location, social media profile, associated website, etc. Among these tools, we can mention CocoFinder, Social Catfish, or InfoTracer.
Another approach is to enter the email address into search engines. Sometimes, the sender uses the same email on other websites, forums, or social networks, which can provide you with additional information.
It is important to note that reverse email search does not guarantee to provide accurate and complete results. The information can vary depending on the availability of online data and how the sender has set up their email. Plus, some people may use techniques to hide or falsify their information when sending emails. It is therefore preferable to use reverse search in combination with other techniques to obtain more complete information.
3) Locate via social networks
Many people expose, knowingly or unknowingly, their personal information on their social media profiles. Thus, by typing the name or email of the person concerned and finding them on social networks, it is possible in some cases to access their location by looking at their posts.
Be careful, this method is not 100% reliable and may not work if the sender is fraudulent.
If there is a problem, contact the email service providers
If you receive suspicious or malicious emails, it’s best to ignore and delete the messages. If the situation becomes really annoying, or even uncontrollable, you can report the incident to the concerned email service providers. They often have methods for reporting abusive or fraudulent emails. By making them aware of the problem, you increase the chances that the sender will be identified and measures taken to prevent future fraudulent activities.
Geolocating an email sender is not an infallible method and can sometimes lead to incorrect or misleading information. However, when it works, it can prove very useful for evaluating the legitimacy or reliability of a message. By analyzing email headers, using IP address geolocation tools, collaborating with email service providers, and/or seeking the help of IT security professionals, you can obtain information about the geographical origin of a sender. However, it is essential to always do this responsibly, respecting privacy and current laws.
