Determining the rightful holder of an electronic mail account involves identifying the individual or entity registered as the owner with the email service provider. For example, the holder of the account “name@example.com” is the person or organization that created and controls that address through “example.com’s” mail servers.
Verification of account ownership is crucial for security, account recovery, legal investigations, and marketing purposes. It prevents unauthorized access, facilitates restoring lost accounts, aids in identifying senders of malicious emails, and ensures legitimate communication reaches the intended recipient. Historically, determining ownership was simpler due to fewer free email providers. However, with the rise of numerous platforms and increased anonymity options, verifying ownership can be challenging. This underscores the importance of robust verification processes.
