Spamtraps are usually e-mail addresses that are created not for communication, but rather to lure spam.
The provenance of this term is unknown, but several competing anti-spam organizations claim trademark over it.
An untainted spamtrap can continue to collect samples of unsolicited messages that can be acted on by an automated anti-spam system.
Automation is considered "safe" because no legitimate email messages should be arriving to the spamtrap address.
A spamtrap can also be a Usenet newsgroup whose sole purpose is to lure cross-posted spam.