Gmail permanent traffic/reputation error

Gmail 550 5.7.28: There is an unusual rate of unsolicited email originating from your IP address

Gmail uses 550 5.7.28 when it detects an unusual rate of unsolicited email from the sending IP. This is a traffic, consent, security, and reputation incident, not a single DNS record to replace.

Problem description

Gmail reports:

550 5.7.28 There is an unusual rate of unsolicited email originating from your IP address.

Available automated evidence: MailFixIt can check the supplied IP against SpamCop and verify PTR, forward DNS, and its network owner. It cannot inspect Gmail complaints, campaign consent, or private reputation state, and it does not offer a reputation repair.

Run automated checks on this sending IP

Enter your sending domain and public sending IP. MailFixIt checks SpamCop, PTR, forward-confirmed reverse DNS, and the network owner. These public signals cannot reproduce a mailbox provider's private reputation decision. MailFixIt does not offer a Fix Pack for IP reputation; a confirmed PTR problem is handled separately.

Is this temporary or permanent?

The 550 result is permanent for this message. Do not resend unchanged traffic.

Immediate containment

Pause the affected stream.
Check for compromised accounts, forms, API keys, or open relay.
Separate transactional and marketing traffic.
Suppress hard bounces, complaints, and unsubscribed recipients.
Review recent volume and content changes.

Recovery

Establish a legitimate opt-in source for every recipient.
Fix the compromise or acquisition problem.
Keep authentication and one-click unsubscribe compliant.
Resume only wanted traffic gradually.
Use Postmaster Tools and provider support evidence where available.

Frequently asked questions

What does Gmail 550 5.7.28 mean?

Gmail detected an unusual rate of unsolicited email from the sending IP and blocked the message.

Should I resend the same campaign?

No. Stop and investigate consent, complaints, list hygiene, compromise, traffic changes, and sender reputation first.

Will a DNS Fix Pack clear the block?

No. Authentication hygiene is important, but it does not remove a receiver reputation or unsolicited-volume block.

Related email diagnostics

Gmail 421 4.7.28: Gmail has detected an unusual rate of emailResolve Gmail 421 4.7.28 by slowing retries and investigating the IP, domain, URL, traffic, or Message-ID named in the full response. Yahoo 554 Message not allowedResolve Yahoo 554 Message not allowed by using the full response to distinguish authentication, content, reputation, and sender-policy causes. Outlook 550 5.7.511: Access denied, banned senderResolve Microsoft 550 5.7.511 by securing the sending system, correcting abusive traffic, and using Microsoft's delisting process.

Primary sources: Gmail SMTP errors and codes, Google email sender guidelines.