Spam filters scan every email for "trigger" words — terms that historically appear in scams, phishing attempts and aggressive sales pitches. Even a legitimate newsletter can land in the spam folder simply because the wrong word slipped into the subject line or body.
Below is a curated list of words and phrases to use with caution. The goal is not to never use them, but to use them sparingly, in clear context, and combined with strong sender authentication and engaged contacts.
Pro tip: a single risky word rarely flags an email — but a combination of three or four does. Run every campaign through Mailpro's built-in anti-spam tester before you hit send.
The forbidden-word list
Words below are grouped by theme. Watch for them in your subject line, preheader and first paragraph — the parts spam filters weight the most.
| Commerce | |
|---|---|
| Buy direct | shopper |
| Buy | Clearance |
| Order | Buying judgments |
| Order status | As seen on |
| Orders shipped by | |
| Personal | |
| Dig up dirt on friends | Score with babes |
| Meet singles | Dear friend |
| Employment | |
| Additional Income | Online biz opportunity |
| Double your | Compete for your business |
| Earn per week | Earn extra cash |
| Home based | Homebased business |
| Income from home | Make money |
| Money making | Online degree |
| While you sleep | University diploma |
| Be your own boss | Work from home |
| Earn $ | Extra income |
| Expect to earn | Potential earnings |
| Home employment | Work at home |
| Make $ | |
| Financial - General | |
| Affordable | Subject to credit |
| Bargain | Unsecured debt |
| Best price | Credit |
| Cash bonus | Earn |
| Cheap | Fast cash |
| Collect | hidden charges |
| Cents on the dollar | Lowest price |
| Check | Money back |
| Claims | Only $ |
| Cost | Refinance |
| No cost | They keep your money -- no refund! |
| Insurance | Big bucks |
| Investment | Cashcashcash |
| no investment | Credit bureaus |
| Money | Easy terms |
| Price | For just $ |
| Profits | Income |
| Save $ | Million dollars |
| Save up to | Mortgage |
| Serious cash | No fees |
| US dollars | Pennies a day |
| $$$ | Pure profit |
| Cash | Unsecured credit |
| Discount | Why pay more? |
| F r e e | Beneficiary |
| Hidden assets | One hundred percent free |
| Loans | Quote |
| Mortgage rates | Save big money |
| Financial - Business | |
| Accept credit cards | Explode your business |
| Full refund | No credit check |
| Investment decision | Requires initial investment |
| Legal | Stock disclaimer statement |
| No Hidden Costs | Check or money order |
| Credit card offers | Sent in compliance |
| Stock alert | Stock pick |
| Cards Accepted | |
| Financial - Personal | |
| Pre-approved | Consolidate your debt |
| Avoid bankruptcy | Financially independent |
| Consolidate debt and credit | Lower interest rate |
| Eliminate debt | Lowest insurance rates |
| Get paid | Social security number |
| Lower your mortgage rate | Collect child support |
| Refinance home | Eliminate bad credit |
| Calling creditors | Get out of debt |
| Your income | Lower monthly payment |
| General | |
| Here | Satisfaction |
| Hidden | Accordingly |
| Lose | Dormant |
| Never | Lifetime |
| Remove | Medium |
| Solution | Passwords |
| Success | Reverses |
| Wife | Teen |
| Acceptance | Avoid |
| Chance | Freedom |
| Leave | Home |
| Maintained | Miracle |
| Sample | Problem |
| Stop | |
| Greetings | |
| Dear | Hello |
| Friend | |
| Marketing | |
| Ad | Increase your sales |
| Email harvest | Member |
| Internet market | Multi level marketing |
| Notspam | Online marketing |
| Open | Subscribe |
| Search engine listings | This isn't spam |
| Undisclosed recipient | Visit our website |
| We hate spam | Will not believe your eyes |
| Email marketing | Click |
| Direct email | Click Here |
| Internet marketing | Click Below |
| Mass email | Click to remove |
| More Internet Traffic | Form |
| One time mailing | Increase sales |
| Opt in | Increase traffic |
| Sale | Month trial offer |
| This isn't junk | Removal instructions |
| Web traffic | The following form |
| Bulk email | Unsubscribe |
| Direct marketing | |
| Medical | |
| Human growth hormone | Removes wrinkles |
| Lose weight | Valium |
| Online pharmacy | Weight loss |
| Stop snoring | Fast Viagra delivery |
| Vicodin | No medical exams |
| Diagnostics | Reverses aging |
| Life Insurance | Viagra |
| Medicine | Xanax |
| Numbers | |
| Billion dollars | Billion |
| Million | Join millions of Americans |
| 100% FREE | Thousands |
| 50% off | #1 |
| Join millions | 100% satisfied |
| One hundred percent guaranteed | 4U |
| Offers | |
| Being a member | The best rates |
| Cannot be combined with any other offer | They’re just giving it away |
| Confidentially on all orders | Trial |
| Deal | Unlimited |
| Financial freedom | Vacation |
| Gift certificate | Vacation offers |
| Have you been turned down? | Warranty |
| If only it were that easy | We honor all |
| Important information regarding | Weekend getaway |
| In accordance with laws | What are you waiting for? |
| Long distance phone offer | Who really wins? |
| Mail in order form | Winning |
| Nigerian | Won |
| No age restrictions | You are a winner! |
| No catch | You have been selected |
| No claim forms | You’re a Winner! |
| No disappointment | Billing address |
| No experience | Call |
| No inventory | Call free |
| No middleman | Giving away |
| No obligation | Guarantee |
| No purchase necessary | Message contains |
| No questions asked | Name brand |
| No selling | No-obligation |
| No strings attached | Offer |
| Not intended | Unsolicited |
| Obligation | Win |
| Off shore | Winner |
| Per day | Produced and sent out |
| Per week | Reserves the right |
| Priority mail | Shopping spree |
| Prize | Stuff on sale |
| Prizes | Terms and conditions |
| Calls-to-Action | |
| Opportunity | Copy accurately |
| Print out and fax | Get |
| See for yourself | Give it away |
| Cancel at any time | Print form signature |
| Compare | Sign up free today |
| Free | |
| Free access | Free quote |
| Free cell phone | Free sample |
| Free consultation | Free trial |
| Free DVD | FREE |
| Free gift | Free installation |
| Free grant money | Free leads |
| Free hosting | Free membership |
| Free Instant | Free offer |
| Free investment | Free preview |
| Free money | Free website |
| Free priority mail | |
| Descriptions/Adjectives | |
| Certified | All new |
| Drastically reduced | Amazing |
| Fantastic deal | Congratulations |
| Guaranteed | For free |
| It’s effective | Risk free |
| Outstanding values | Satisfaction guaranteed |
| Promise you | All natural |
| Sense of Urgency | |
| Access | While supplies last |
| Apply Now | Apply online |
| Call now | Can’t live without |
| Don't delete | Do it today |
| Don't hesitate | Get it now |
| For instant access | Information you requested |
| For Only | One time |
| For you | one-time |
| Get started now | Order Now |
| Great offer | Order today |
| Info you requested | Please read |
| Instant | Special promotion |
| limited time | |
| Nouns | |
| Addresses on cd | Casino |
| Beverage | Celebrity |
| Bonus | Copy DVDs |
| Brand new pager | Laser printer |
| Cable converter | Rolex |
| Phone | Stainless steel |
| Modern high-risk phrases | |
| Crypto giveaway | Get rich with crypto |
| Bitcoin investment secret | Make money with Bitcoin |
| NFT airdrop | Free crypto tokens |
| Unlimited followers | Buy Instagram followers |
| 100% guaranteed results | Secret loophole |
| Passive income system | Make money while you sleep |
| Instant loan approval | No credit check required |
| Click here to claim | Claim your reward now |
Write emails that land in the inbox — not the spam folder
Mailpro tests every campaign against SpamAssassin before delivery and rewrites risky content automatically. Try Mailpro free or use our AI email writer to generate clean, high-converting copy in seconds.
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