Is @ a Legitimate Email Address?

We often receive questions about the legitimacy of certain email addresses, and one such inquiry pertains to the use of the domain This article aims to clarify whether this email address is indeed legitimate and what it signifies.

No, "@" is Not a Legitimate Email Address

The email address cited as @ is not a legitimate one. To understand why, let us break down the components of the email address and refer to official resources.

Email Domain Validation

An email address is considered legitimate only if it is associated with a valid domain. A domain, in the context of email, is the part of the address that follows the '@' symbol and can be validated through internet regulations and authoritative sources. In this case, the domain does not exist, making the email address invalid.

[(1)](_of_Internet_top-level_domains) An email address is only legitimate if the domain has been registered and authorized by the appropriate authorities.

With regards to .gov domains, they are explicitly reserved for government organizations within the United States. As such, any claim of a government-issued email involving a domain such as sm.gov or is misleading.

Government Email Domains

[(2)]() The official government email domain for federal, state, local, and tribal government organizations within the United States is .gov. This is the only valid domain for government-related emails, ensuring the security and legitimacy of government communications.

It is important to note that .gov domains are strictly controlled and monitored by the General Services Administration (GSA). Any other domain that includes .gov is not authorized and could be indicative of phishing or fraudulent activities.

Clarifying Government Email Addresses

To verify the legitimacy of a government email address, individuals should adhere to the following guidelines:

Check the Domain: Verify if the domain ends with .gov. Other domain suffixes should be scrutinized for legitimacy. Official Sources: Look for emails and content from official government websites. Unsupported Domains: Domains like are not supported and should be avoided.

[(3)]() When in doubt, individuals should contact the relevant government agency directly through reputable means to verify the legitimacy of the communication.

Additional Resources

For a comprehensive list of all Internet top-level domains, refer to the Wikipedia page List of Internet top-level domains. This resource provides detailed information about the validity and usage of various domain names.

Conclusion

Given the strict regulations and oversight by governmental bodies, the domain is not a valid domain for email addresses. These rules apply to all government organizations within the United States, and any attempt to use such an address can be considered fraudulent or misleading.