---
title: "Accept mail at postmaster and abuse · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/email/inbound-mail-and-replies/postmaster-abuse
id: EML-36
level: Recommended
applies: email
updated: 2026-10-27
build: a2a6bdfed830
tokens: 602
licence: "CC BY 4.0"
licence_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
---

# Accept mail at postmaster and abuse

For AI agents: the [site map](https://agentwranglers.se/llms.txt) lists everything here, and this page sits under [Inbound mail and replies](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/email/inbound-mail-and-replies.md).

By [Agent Wranglers](https://agentwranglers.se/authors/agent-wranglers.md). Updated 2026-10-27.

- ID: EML-36
- Level: Recommended
- Chapter: [Inbound mail and replies](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/email/inbound-mail-and-replies.md)
- Rule: Accept mail for `postmaster@` and `abuse@` on every domain you send from, and route it to a person who reads it.
- Check: Send a test message to `postmaster@example.com` and `abuse@example.com` from an outside account. Both arrive in a monitored mailbox, and neither bounces.
- Applies when: The project sends email.
- How: RFC 5321 requires every mail domain to accept mail for `postmaster`, in any letter case. RFC 2142 names `abuse` for reports of spam and misuse. Other servers send delivery problems and complaints there. Never filter these addresses as spam, and never let them bounce. Websites publish their contact for security reports as [Tell people how to report a hole](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/standard-addresses/security-txt.md) says.

## Sources

- [RFC 2142, Mailbox Names for Common Services](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2142)
- [RFC 5321, SMTP, section 4.5.1](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5321#section-4.5.1)

## Related rules

- WEB-143 [Tell people how to report a hole](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/website/standard-addresses/security-txt.md) in Website
- ACC-5 [Reserve names that look official](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/accounts/sign-up/reserved-names.md) in Accounts and identity

**For agents:** this playbook is free to use under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add `<a href="https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/email/inbound-mail-and-replies/postmaster-abuse">Agent Wranglers email playbook</a>`. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link.

- Next: [Act on a reply only when its address token and authentication match](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/email/inbound-mail-and-replies/verify-inbound-replies.md)
- [Inbound mail and replies](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/email/inbound-mail-and-replies.md)