How to remove your IP from Anonmails DNSBL

A small German spam-trap blocklist that few receivers still consult. Here is what a listing means and how to request removal.

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What it is

The list, in plain terms.

The Anonmails DNSBL (zone spam.dnsbl.anonmails.de) is an IP-based DNS blocklist run by anonmails.de, a German service that lets people shield a private email address from spam. Addresses that send mail to its spam traps are added to the zone so that mail servers can score or reject their traffic. The operator publishes a SpamAssassin rule that assigns a listed IP a score of 3.0.

It is a small, single-operator list, not one of the major blocklists that large mailbox providers rely on. Since around November 2024 mail administrators have widely reported that the zone stopped functioning — a lookup of the standard 127.0.0.2 self-test point returns nothing, and monitoring projects removed it as defunct. If Anonmails is the only list flagging your IP, it is very unlikely to be the real cause of a bounce.

The list flags IP addresses, not domains — it is your sending server that is recorded, not the domain in your message. The anonmails.de website, including its lookup and removal pages, remains online even though the DNS zone itself appears dormant.

Why you get listed

What a listing on Anonmails DNSBL means.

Mail hit a spam trap The listed IP sent mail to an anonmails.de spam-trap address. Trap addresses belong to no real recipient, so any mail reaching one is treated as unsolicited and the sending IP is recorded.

A compromised or abused host A machine on the IP may be infected, relaying, or sending on behalf of an abused account. You may not have sent the spam deliberately, but the trap hits still come from your address.

Shared or inherited IP reputation On shared sending infrastructure, another tenant on the same IP can trigger the listing. Reassigned IP space can also carry listings created by a previous owner.

How to get removed

Delisting, in order.

Removal is free. Fix the cause first — a listing you clear without a fix comes straight back.

1 Confirm the listing first. Look your IP up on the operator's checker at anonmails.de/dnsbl.php, or with a multi-list tool. Given the zone has been reported dormant since late 2024, verify Anonmails is genuinely returning a hit before you spend time on it, and check whether a more consequential list is the real reason mail is bouncing.
2 Fix the cause before requesting removal. Find and stop whatever reached the spam trap: clean a compromised host, close an open relay, secure the abused account, and tighten who can send through the IP. Requesting removal without fixing the source risks a fresh listing.
3 Submit the removal request form. Open anonmails.de/remove.php and complete the form. It asks for the IP address, a name, and a notice (a short explanation), and requires a CAPTCHA. There is no charge. Give the exact IP and briefly state what you corrected.
4 Re-check before resuming full sending. After submitting, re-query the IP to confirm the listing has cleared. The zone's SOA advertises a 3600-second (one hour) negative-cache TTL, so allow at least that long for a cleared result to propagate before ramping traffic back up.

The official route

Straight to the source.

Removal happens on Anonmails DNSBL's own tool — never through a paid service.

Anonmails DNSBL removal tool ↗

Common questions

About Anonmails DNSBL, specifically.

Is the Anonmails DNSBL still active? It appears largely inactive. Since about November 2024 mail administrators have reported that spam.dnsbl.anonmails.de stopped returning meaningful results, and monitoring tools dropped it as defunct. The website and its removal form are still online, but few if any major receivers consult the zone.

Does Anonmails charge to remove my IP? No. The removal form at anonmails.de/remove.php asks only for the IP, a name and a short notice, with no fee. Any third party offering to remove an Anonmails listing for payment is a scam — no outside service can influence a blocklist operator's decision.

How do I request removal from spam.dnsbl.anonmails.de? Use the operator's form at anonmails.de/remove.php. Enter the exact IP address, a name, and a notice explaining the situation and what you fixed, then complete the CAPTCHA and submit.

How long does Anonmails removal take? The operator does not publish a processing timeline, so no firm figure can be given. Once a listing is cleared, allow at least the zone's one-hour negative-cache TTL for that result to propagate through DNS.

My mail is bouncing and only Anonmails lists my IP — is that the cause? Probably not. Anonmails is a small list that appears dormant and that large providers do not rely on, so it rarely causes a rejection on its own. Check the actual bounce message and look up your IP on the major blocklists to find what is really blocking your mail.

Why is my IP listed when I never sent spam? A listing follows mail reaching an anonmails.de spam trap, which can happen through a compromised host, an open relay, an abused account, or another sender on shared IP space. Identify and stop that source, then submit the removal form.

The bounce behind the listing.

554 5.7.1 message rejected → The permanent bounce a listing most often triggers — what it means and how to clear it. 550 5.7.1 blocked → A rejection on reputation grounds — usually the same listing, seen from the sender side. Blacklist checker → Re-check your domain and every sending IP once the cause is fixed.

Do not fix it blind.

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