Bulk mail subscriptions by including a bulk mail class indicator and a sender identifier key value in the header portion of an electronic message. Messages which are properly identified as bulk class and include an approved sender identifier value are passed directly to the intended recipient. Messages which are properly identified as bulk class but which do not contain an approved sender identifier value are rejected or intercepted. Messages which do no indicate themselves to be bulk class, but which are determined to have characteristics of bulk mail are rejected or intercepted, as well.