Forwarders vs. Filters - Which Do I Need To Be Using?

Hi, all. First-timer, here.

 

I have a business where I generate leads and distribute them to clients. When an inbound lead comes in from one of my websites, I am notified via email, and I like to have a copy of that email delivered both to myself and the client who services the leads from that particular website.

 

I have a separate, generic domain that I use strictly for the purpose of forwarding emails. I do not have any email inboxes configured on this domain. Only forwarders.

 

So, for example, for client #1:

 

site_1_leads@genericforwardingdomain.com is an "inbox-less" address and should forward to:

AND

 

For client #2:

 

site_2_leads@genericforwardingdomain.com is an "inbox-less" address and should forward to:

AND

 

...and so forth.

 

I normally set this up in cPanel as an Email Forwarder.  I have "genericforwardingdomain.com" set up as a domain in my cPanel, and DNS is appropriately pointed to my dedicated IP through Cloudflare.

 

Lately, I've noticed that cPanel's forwarding function has been very fickle...kinda hit-or-miss as to whether it actually does anything at all. I'm not sure why. I don't have any spam blocking methods in place for any of these domains over which I have control.

 

In any event, I contacted my hosting company's technical support, and the gentleman there advised that I should probably set this up as a Global Email Filter situation as opposed to an Email Forwarder one.

 

They advised me that I should be able to set up Global Email Filters where the rules would be something like this:

 

IF "To:" equals "site_1_leads@genericforwardingdomain.com"

THEN Redirect Email to "me@mymaindomain.com" AND "client_getting_site_1_leads@hisemailaddress.com"

 

IF "To:" equals "site_2_leads@genericforwardingdomain.com"

THEN Redirect Email to "me@mymaindomain.com" AND "client_getting_site_2_leads@hisemailaddress.com"

 

...etc., etc., etc.

 

Unfortunately, this gives me the error: "To prevent recursive email delivery issues, you can not use a recipient from a controlling domain in a global delivery filter."

 

I'm not sure where or how, with what I'm attempting here, there would be any kind of danger of a recursive or infinite loop.

 

Maybe I'm just short sighted.

 

Anyway, if there's something I'm doing wrong with this, I'd appreciate being made aware of what and why.

 

Also, I guess if this Global Email Filters thing is a no-go in this situation, is it proper to configure Email Forwarders that do not correspond to an email inbox configured on the server?  In other words, if I want to have a forwarder, "site_1_leads@genericforwardingdomain.com," must I have a corresponding email account set up on my server?

 

Is there anything I could be doing to help ensure delivery through cPanel Email Forwarders? My experience with them has me a little worried in terms of the percentage of time they seem to function correctly.

 

Thank you all.