How To Trace Email Sender Location

It’s no secret that email is one of the primary means of communication in the world today. What may be a surprise to some, however, is the ease with which email sender locations can be traced.

In this article, we will discuss five easy methods for tracing an email and provide instructions on how to use them.

This will empower you with the knowledge to trace the location of an email sender, whether it’s for marketing purposes or tracking down a spam email sender.

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Can You Trace an Email Sender’s Location in Gmail?

Unfortunately, tracing an email sender’s location in Gmail is not possible. The problem with Gmail is that it does not include the source IP address in the email headers. As a result, you’re unable to get your hands on the sender’s IP address to track them.

You might see online guides on how to extract the sender’s IP address in Gmail. However, it is not possible to do so.

For example, you may be told to go to the email and click on “Show original” in the drop-down menu that can be accessed by clicking on the three dots at the top right corner. The SPF field may show an IP address, but this is actually the IP address of the Google server that processed the email, not the sender’s.

5 Top Methods to Trace Email Sender Location in 2o24

There are five methods by which you can trace an email sender’s location: through their IP address, via a reverse lookup tool, by searching on social media platforms, by examining the sender’s time zone, and by using a DNS database.

1. Tracing an Email Sender’s Location Through IP Address

Each time an email is sent, it passes through various servers before reaching its recipient. These servers add headers to the email that contain useful information, including the IP address of the sender.

To access an email’s header, open the email and click on “View message source.” A pop-up window will appear with a long string of code. Within this code, search for “Received from” to find the sender’s IP address.

Next, go to a website such as IP-Lookup.net or IP-Tracker.org and enter the sender’s IP address to trace their approximate location.

Keep in mind that this method may not always work, as some senders are able to conceal or mask their IP address. In that case, you can try one of the methods below.

2. Tracing an Email Sender’s Location Through Reverse Email Lookup Tools

Another way to trace an email sender’s location is through a reverse email lookup tool, such as EmailTracer or EmailSherlock. These tools allow you to enter the sender’s email address and return information such as location, internet service provider (ISP), and domain history.

These tools work by searching for the email address in various online databases and directories. Also, they may require a fee, and the accuracy of their results can vary.

3. Tracing an Email Sender’s Location Through Social Media Platforms

Another possible method to trace the location of an email sender is to search for their email address on social media or search engines. The sender may have used the same email address to register for social media accounts or websites, providing information such as their name and location.

One of the best platforms for this spy work is LinkedIn. Almost all professionals use their work email addresses for their LinkedIn profiles, making it a valuable resource for tracing email senders.

The drawback of this method is that many people prefer to keep their personal information private on the internet, making it difficult to obtain information through this method.

4. Tracing an Email Sender’s Location Through Time Zone

It may also be helpful to consider the sender’s time zone. By examining when the email was sent and comparing it to the sender’s time zone, you may be able to narrow down the sender’s location.

You can find out the exact time at which the email was sent (the time at the sender’s end) by opening the email and checking the “Date” field in the message header. Next, use a time zone map to determine places with the same time as displayed in the message.

Of course, this method isn’t very accurate as multiple countries can be in the same time zone. Also, people can easily change the time zone for all outgoing emails by simply changing the time zone of the device they’re using.

5. Tracing an Email Sender’s Location Through the Domain Name System (DNS)

The DNS is a database of IP addresses and domain names. You can use it to trace the location of emails sent via web-based services like Gmail.

Here are the steps:

Step 1. Locate the domain name in the email header. Look at the “Received” or “Return-Path” fields to find it.

Step 2. Use a DNS lookup tool to access the DNS records for that domain. Examples of DNS lookup tools include dnschecker.org and nslookup.io. These tools will help you retrieve the IP address of the server that sent the email.

Step 3. Use an IP geolocation service to reveal the physical address associated with the IP address you find in step two.

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Conclusion

Though the methods mentioned above are not foolproof, they can be helpful in tracing an email sender’s location. By using a combination of these techniques, you may be able to determine the approximate area where the sender is located.

Keep in mind that some methods are more accurate than others and that IP addresses can be masked or concealed by the sender. With patience and practice, however, you should be able to use these tools to your advantage in tracking down malicious senders.

Trace Email Sender Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Email Cannot Be Traced?

If a sender conceals or fakes their IP address, you won’t be able to trace their location accurately.

How to Find Information From an Email Address?

You can use an email enrichment tool like Voila Norbert to find information about an email address. This information includes the name of the account holder, affiliated social media profiles, and phone number.

Is It Illegal to Trace Someone’s Email Address?

No, it’s not illegal to trace an email sender’s location if you’re doing it via publicly available resources like IP lookup tools.

Can Someone Find You From Your Email Address?

Yes, if you’ve shared your email address online—such as on your LinkedIn profile—or it somehow lands in the database of an email enrichment tool, people can use it to find you.