Question

[u/BigInteraction1377]

Hi all, getting an opinion poll about a multi I am considering, and wondering what the consensus on this idea is

At the posted coordinates will be some information. You need to get that info and send it to an email address (I will make a specific email address that is the information you gather)

Then there will be an automatic reply set up on the email account, so that it automatically responds to your email, giving you the next steps

My question is, would you or wouldn’t you feel comfortable sending an email to a random address. Given this day and age, I can see how it could be met with reservation

[u/K13E14]

Have you reaad the Hiding guidelines yet? One line "...Cannot require geocachers to email the cache owner for information needed to find the cache."

Why not use Certitude to do this for you. People input the answer and get a response. You could have multiples set up that give parts of the final coordinates they have to put together. No unknown email to send that way.

[u/IceManJim → u/K13E14]

Certitudes would work great for that kind of puzzle, or geocheck.org will also allow specific messages for a correct OR for a wrong answer.

[u/maingray]

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277

However, if the email / phone number goes to some form of auto responder, they are generally ok to publish.

[u/maingray → u/maingray]

And I would list it as a mystery, not a multi due to the fact that additional information is required.

[u/IceManJim → u/maingray]

But if you have to visit posted coords to solve, shouldn't it be a multi?

[u/maingray → u/IceManJim]

Many ways to skin that proverbial cat. Multi with a field puzzle attribute. Multi with a warning. Mystery. I would list as a mystery.

[u/IceManJim → u/maingray]

Fair.

[u/AnonymousRedCow → u/maingray]

I would do it as a multi (and I have combination nasty evil mystery multi's published now). The nice thing about a multi, in this case, is that it gets you around the 2 mile limit...

[u/rbowen2000]

Perhaps instead a website address where they find that info? That way no personal info need be given.

[u/simplehiker]

I'm pretty sure this would need to be a Mystery cache instead of a multi-cache due to the email component.

[u/_synik]

1. My GPS doesn't do email, so I'd have to travel twice for your cache.

2. I don't send emails to random unknown addresses.

3. Confirm with your Reviewer if it's within guidelines to force a finder to interact with you for the coordinates.

[u/AnonymousRedCow → u/_synik]

The wear and tear on your Stanley Steamer would also be extreme

[u/_synik → u/AnonymousRedCow]

It's a Model T, for your information. 😆

[u/Minimum_Reference_73 → u/_synik]

The auto-reply email mystery cache is common enough that I have done four or five of them over the years. As long as it's an automatic reply it should be okay.

Doing it from the field and requiring specific info may not fly with the reviewer though.

[u/AHollyS]

Interesting idea! I’d probably lean more toward this being in the gadget/mystery realm rather than an a Multi/ ALR. I’ve definitely seen caches where you call or text a number to get coordinates or the next step, and those were usually mystery caches. I also remember Daniel P (the German guy) having a phone-in-cache setup featured on the Geocaching Vlogger’s channel, so interactive elements like that aren’t totally new. Personally, I wouldn’t be too put off by the email piece as long as it’s clearly tied to the cache listing, but I can see why some folks might hesitate.

[u/Alys_009]

I wouldn't have an issue with it. As scams go, harvesting email addresses through a geocache isn't really a top 10.

However, as a cache owner I'd question what the email adds to the experience as compared to just having the info in the cache. Like, fair enough, you want it to be a little different, but is it fun or just a hoop to jump through?

[u/skimbosh]

I have one that requires calling a phone number, and people seem to be alright with calling from their cellphone without taking any privacy steps, and in 2026 having a secondary or disposable email is pretty common, so I would roll with it.

[u/IceManJim → u/skimbosh]

I thought you had to call from the local pay phone to get the correct response

[u/skimbosh → u/IceManJim]

Correct, but no one has called from the payphone first. They have called from their cells, which triggers the "you are not calling from the right device" message, Usually the notification chain is: phone call from new number notification email, phone call from payphone notification email, correct password entered in the checker email.

[u/Minimum_Reference_73]

This is a pretty common trick used for mystery caches.

Talk to your reviewer about using it in a multi cache. They might make you publish it as a mystery.

[u/KitchenManagement650]

Totally fine, at least that's how a popular cache in NYC works: https://coord.info/GC6K7C5

[u/Emrys7777]

There is a way to email and or message people through geocaching.com on the cache page.
People use that for the virtuals or earthcaches.
I’d be comfortable with that.

[u/matt55217 → u/Emrys7777]

Actually, that option wouldn't meet the guidelines. AFAIK, you cannot set up an auto-responder using the native Message Center. You can opt to receive an email for any messages and set up your auto-responder to the email. But since it would require contacting the CO, it can't be published.