Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for connecting with your audience. However, even the most well-intentioned campaigns can get flagged as spam—ending up in the promotions tab or, worse, the junk folder. One of the biggest culprits? Spam trigger words.
These are specific words or phrases that spam filters associate with scams, aggressive marketing, or deceptive offers. Overusing them—or using them carelessly in your subject line or body content—can hurt your deliverability, lower your open rates, and damage your sender reputation.
Below, we’ve organized the most common spam words into categories to help you craft cleaner, more trustworthy emails.
Financial & Money-Related Spam Words
Emails that promise unrealistic financial gain or push aggressive money-making opportunities are prime targets for spam filters. Avoid terms that feel too good to be true.
Examples include:
100% free
Additional income
Be your own boss
Big bucks
Cash bonus
Earn extra cash
Extra income
Financial freedom
Free access
Free gift
Free trial
Full refund
Get out of debt
Incredible deal
Make money
Million dollars
Money back
Online biz opportunity
Pure profit
Risk-free
Unsecured credit
Work from home
Marketing Buzzwords & Clickbait Triggers
These attention-grabbing phrases are often used to push urgency or manipulate clicks. While effective in sales copy, overuse or poor context can land you in spam.
Examples include:
Act now
Apply now
Best price
Buy direct
Buy now
Click here
Don’t delete
Get it now
Get paid
Limited time
Order now
See for yourself
This won’t last
Urgent
What are you waiting for?
While supplies last
Scammy or Misleading Language
Words that resemble scam language or trigger mistrust are frequently flagged. Spam filters are trained to detect manipulative wording that implies deceit, fake authority, or misleading claims.
Examples include:
Access now
Congratulations
Dear friend
Eliminate bad credit
Explode your business
Fantastic deal
Guarantee
Lose weight
No cost
No fees
Not junk
Not spam
Obligation
One-time
Promise you
Satisfaction guaranteed
Security & Privacy Red Flags
Emails that simulate urgent account alerts or security warnings often get flagged for phishing attempts. These words should be used with caution—even if your message is legitimate.
Examples include:
Account suspended
Billing
Confidentiality
Credit card offer
Hidden charges
Passwords
Social security number
This isn’t a scam
This isn’t junk
Unsecured
Verify account
Health and Wellness Spam Words
Many spam messages in the health space make unverified claims about miraculous results. Even if your product is legitimate, be mindful of the language you use.
Examples include:
Anti-aging
Cure baldness
Cure cancer
Diet
Fat burning
Lose belly fat
Miracle
Natural remedies
No prescription
Weight loss
Viagra
Xanax
Libido
Hair growth
Email Marketing & Technical Trigger Words
Ironically, even email-related terms can be flagged if used excessively—especially when promoting email marketing or bulk communication services.
Examples include:
Bulk email
Email marketing
Increase conversion
Internet marketing
Marketing solution
Opt-in
Pre-approved
Send email
Spam check
Unsubscribe
Web traffic
Best Practices to Avoid Spam Filters
It’s not just about the words—it’s about how and where you use them. Here are some tips:
Avoid using spam words in subject lines. Filters heavily weigh subject lines in scoring email quality.
Don’t use ALL CAPS or multiple exclamation marks (e.g., “BUY NOW!!!”).
Maintain text-to-image ratio. Emails that are image-heavy with little text often get flagged.
Authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to establish trust with inbox providers.
Don’t buy email lists. These usually contain unverified or spam-trap emails.
Offer a clear and working unsubscribe option. It’s legally required in most regions and improves trust.
Final Thoughts
Using spam trigger words doesn’t guarantee that your email will land in the junk folder—but it greatly increases the risk. Spam filters operate using algorithms that scan for these high-risk terms, especially in bulk messages.
As a best practice, write naturally, focus on value, and test before you send. Our email marketing tools offer spam-check previews so you can adjust content before launching your campaign.
Avoiding these spam words doesn’t just help you stay compliant—it keeps your emails visible, your audience engaged, and your sender reputation strong.
