Encode Email to pass to Web.API

I am needing to send an email address to a `Web.Api get` method. I need to check to see if the email address exists in our system before allowing someone to sign up for a new account. My first thought was to `encode` the email address and then `decode` it once it was inside the `Get` Action The URL looks something like this `http://mysite/Api/RTSCredit/jharding%40email.com` However, This always errors with a 404 response Here is the `WebApiConfig.cs` ``` config.Routes.MapHttpRoute( name: "DefaultApi", routeTemplate: "api/{controller}/{emailAddress}", defaults: new { id = RouteParameter.Optional } ); ``` When I send in a simple string `http://mysite/Api/RTSCredit/someemail` It hits the Get action like I would prefer, but obviously can't return a useful value. Here is the Get Action ``` [HttpGet] public HttpResponseMessage Get([FromUri] string emailAddress) { using (IRtsCreditDal rtsCreditDal = new RtsCreditDal()) { var listOfExistingUsers = rtsCreditDal.GetUsersByEmail(emailAddress); if (listOfExistingUsers == null || listOfExistingUsers.Count == 0) { return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.NotFound, "not found"); } else { return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK); } } } ``` What adjustments do I need to make in order to pass an email to this `Action`? As I've been playing further, it doesn't seem to like the `period` in the URL. I could easily do something to replace that character but it feels like a hack.