Unsolicited electronic message source verification and tracking system and method

A system comprising:

• a destination device;
• a source device communicatively coupled with the destination device;
• an e-mail authorization system communicatively coupled with the source device, wherein the source device:
• sends to the e-mail authorization system a request for authorization to send an electronic mail message to the destination device,
• wherein the e-mail authorization system:
• receives from the source device the request for authorization to send the electronic mail message,
• generates an authorization indicator that includes the address of the source of the request for authorization, and
• sends the authorization indicator to the address of the source device after authorization,
• and wherein the source device:
• receives from the e-mail authorization system the authorization indicator,
• adds the received authorization indicator with the included address of the source of the request to the electronic mail message, and
• sends the electronic mail message with the added authorization indicator to the destination device;
• and
• an intermediate mail system for the destination device, wherein the intermediate mail system:
• receives the electronic mail message with the added authorization indicator from the source device,
• compares the address of the source device sending the received electronic mail message against the address of the source device sending said request for authorization included in the authorization indicator received in the electronic mail message, and
• delivers the electronic mail message to the destination device if the address of the source device sending the received electronic mail message matches the address of the source device sending said request for authorization included in the authorization indicator received in the electronic mail message.

A method for verifying and tracking unsolicited e-mail sources, the method comprising:

• receiving at an e-mail authorization system from a source device a request for authorization to send an electronic mail message, the request identifying an address of the source of the request;
• authorizing the request with the e-mail authorization system including generating an authorization indicator that includes the address of the source of the request;
• sending a response to the request for authorization from the e-mail authorization system to the address of the source of the request, wherein the response to said request for authorization includes the authorization indicator;
• receiving an electronic mail message from the source device to a destination device at an intermediate mail agent for the destination device, the electronic mail message including the authorization indicator and indication of an address of the source device sending the electronic mail message;
• comparing by the intermediate mail agent for the destination device the indication of the address of the source device sending the electronic mail message included in the received electronic mail message against the address of the source of the request from for authorization included in the authorization indicator received in the electronic mail message;
• and
• delivering the electronic mail message from the intermediate mail agent for the destination device to the destination device if the indication of the address of the source device sending the electronic mail message included in the received electronic mail message matches the address of the source of the request for authorization included in the authorization indicator received in the electronic mail message.

A system comprising:

• an e-mail authorization system, wherein the e-mail authorization system receives from a source device a request for authorization to send an electronic mail message, the request identifying an address of the source of the request, authorizes the request, generates an authorization indicator that includes the address of the source of the request, and sends a response to the request for authorization to the address of the source of the request, wherein the response to said request for authorization includes the authorization indicator with the included address of the source of the request;
• and
• an e-mail server for a destination device, wherein the e-mail server receives an electronic mail message from the source device to the destination device, the electronic mail message including the authorization indicator and indication of an address of the source device from which the electronic mail message is received, compares the indication of the address of the source device from which the electronic mail message is received included in the received electronic mail message against the address of the source of the request for authorization included in the authorization indicator received in the electronic mail message, and delivers the electronic mail message to the destination device if the indication of the address of the source device from which the electronic mail message is received included in the received electronic mail message matches the address of the source of the request for authorization included in the authorization indicator received in the electronic mail message.