diff --git a/app/notifications/rest.py b/app/notifications/rest.py
index 99be6b0b2..982e3128d 100644
--- a/app/notifications/rest.py
+++ b/app/notifications/rest.py
@@ -217,7 +217,6 @@ def send_notification(notification_type):
         template_id=notification['template'],
         service_id=service_id
     )
-
     errors = unarchived_template_schema.validate({'archived': template.archived})
     if errors:
         raise InvalidRequest(errors, status_code=400)
@@ -270,15 +269,17 @@ def send_notification(notification_type):
 
     notification_id = create_uuid()
     notification.update({"template_version": template.version})
-    persist_notification(
-        service,
-        notification_id,
-        notification,
-        datetime.utcnow().strftime(DATETIME_FORMAT),
-        notification_type,
-        str(api_user.id),
-        api_user.key_type
-    )
+
+    if not _simulated_recipient(notification['to'], notification_type):
+        persist_notification(
+            service,
+            notification_id,
+            notification,
+            datetime.utcnow().strftime(DATETIME_FORMAT),
+            notification_type,
+            str(api_user.id),
+            api_user.key_type
+        )
 
     return jsonify(
         data=get_notification_return_data(
@@ -311,6 +312,12 @@ def get_notification_statistics_for_day():
     return jsonify(data=data), 200
 
 
+def _simulated_recipient(to_address, notification_type):
+    return (to_address in current_app.config['SIMULATED_SMS_NUMBERS']
+            if notification_type == SMS_TYPE
+            else to_address in current_app.config['SIMULATED_EMAIL_ADDRESSES'])
+
+
 def persist_notification(
         service,
         notification_id,
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 6b2be3721..fed24ce27 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -142,6 +142,13 @@ class Config(object):
 
     SENDING_NOTIFICATIONS_TIMEOUT_PERIOD = 259200
 
+    SIMULATED_EMAIL_ADDRESSES = ('simulate-delivered@notifications.service.gov.uk',
+                                 'simulate-permanent-failure@notifications.service.gov.uk',
+                                 'simulate-temporary-failure@notifications.service.gov.uk',
+                                 )
+
+    SIMULATED_SMS_NUMBERS = ('+447700900000', '+447700900111', '+447700900222')
+
 
 ######################
 # Config overrides ###
diff --git a/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py b/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py
index 9dd29e1b5..0b5e5eaf0 100644
--- a/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py
+++ b/tests/app/notifications/rest/test_send_notification.py
@@ -674,14 +674,11 @@ def test_should_not_return_html_in_body(notify_api, notify_db, notify_db_session
 def test_should_not_send_email_if_team_api_key_and_not_a_service_user(notify_api, sample_email_template, mocker):
     with notify_api.test_request_context(), notify_api.test_client() as client:
         mocker.patch('app.celery.provider_tasks.send_email_to_provider.apply_async')
-
         data = {
             'to': "not-someone-we-trust@email-address.com",
             'template': str(sample_email_template.id),
         }
 
-        # import pdb
-        # pdb.set_trace()
         auth_header = create_authorization_header(service_id=sample_email_template.service_id, key_type=KEY_TYPE_TEAM)
 
         response = client.post(
@@ -944,3 +941,61 @@ def test_should_delete_sms_notification_and_return_error_if_sqs_fails(notify_api
         assert response.status_code == 500
         assert not notifications_dao.get_notification_by_id(fake_uuid)
         assert not NotificationHistory.query.get(fake_uuid)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('to_email', [
+    'simulate-delivered@notifications.service.gov.uk',
+    'simulate-permanent-failure@notifications.service.gov.uk',
+    'simulate-temporary-failure@notifications.service.gov.uk'
+])
+def test_should_not_persist_notification_or_send_email_if_simulated_email(
+        client,
+        to_email,
+        sample_email_template,
+        mocker):
+    apply_async = mocker.patch('app.celery.provider_tasks.send_email_to_provider.apply_async')
+
+    data = {
+        'to': to_email,
+        'template': sample_email_template.id
+    }
+
+    auth_header = create_authorization_header(service_id=sample_email_template.service_id)
+
+    response = client.post(
+        path='/notifications/email',
+        data=json.dumps(data),
+        headers=[('Content-Type', 'application/json'), auth_header])
+
+    assert response.status_code == 201
+    apply_async.assert_not_called()
+    assert Notification.query.count() == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('to_sms', [
+    '07700 900000',
+    '07700 900111',
+    '07700 900222'
+])
+def test_should_not_persist_notification_or_send_sms_if_simulated_number(
+        client,
+        to_sms,
+        sample_template,
+        mocker):
+    apply_async = mocker.patch('app.celery.provider_tasks.send_sms_to_provider.apply_async')
+
+    data = {
+        'to': to_sms,
+        'template': sample_template.id
+    }
+
+    auth_header = create_authorization_header(service_id=sample_template.service_id)
+
+    response = client.post(
+        path='/notifications/sms',
+        data=json.dumps(data),
+        headers=[('Content-Type', 'application/json'), auth_header])
+
+    assert response.status_code == 201
+    apply_async.assert_not_called()
+    assert Notification.query.count() == 0