Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for sending an electronic mail receipt and a mobile terminal. In the method, a first mobile terminal obtains an electronic mail sent by a second mobile terminal. A header of the electronic mail contains indication information about whether it is required to send a receipt for the electronic mail. When the first mobile terminal determines according to the indication information that it is required to send a receipt, the first mobile terminal obtains a phone number of the second mobile terminal from the electronic mail and sends a short message with preset content to the phone number of the second mobile terminal.