We were all there. I’m trying to clean out my inbox to find that the same sketchy email continues to appear even after clicking “Unsubscribe”. Robert of Danville, Virginia, wrote in a question that many of us could relate to.
“When you unsubscribe to junk mail you know you don’t allow, you really have unsubscribed and don’t you get it anymore [emails]? You can also scroll to the bottom of the email to handle the “unsubscribe” feature and block emails using the block option in the email. It appears that the same email will be displayed again. Is unsubscribe worth my time? Are there any remedies? ” he wrote.
Robert, you’re not alone in asking this, trust is more complicated (and frustrating) than you think. Unsubscribe can work in some cases, but there are situations that can actually make things worse. If it’s safe to unsubscribe, if it’s not, and try breaking what you can do instead to get back control of your inbox.
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Beware of scammers (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
The truth about unsubscribe from spam you didn’t sign up
Unsubscribe is not always safe, especially in spam. If your email comes from a legitimate business, such as the one you purchased or the newsletter you signed up for, it’s usually okay to unsubscribe. These companies are bound by email marketing laws and usually remove you. However, emails you’ve never signed up for are completely different. This is the important difference.
Legal Email
- It comes from a known business or service
- Usually there are links that are not working
- Opt-out requests are respected
Spam/Scheat Email
- It comes from an unknown or random source
- “Unsubscribe” links may be fake or used to track clicks
- Click to confirm that the email is active and invite more spam
Send the app via email on your smartphone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
How to stop promotional emails that you cannot unsubscribe
If you do not click “Unsubscribe”
Not all registration links are secure. In fact, clicking on one in a suspicious email can make things worse by letting spammers know that their address is active.
Please do not click Unsubscribe.
- The sender feels unfamiliar or that the message is irrelevant to what you signed up for
- The email contains typos, bad formatting, or ambiguous greetings like “dear customer”
- The sender address looks strange (e.g. winbignow@marketingzone.biz)
- The “unsubscribe” link will be redirected to a strange URL
In these cases, clicking Unsunscribe may invite more junk mail instead of stopping.
“Unsubscribe” email scam targets Americans
Better way to fight spam
Here’s what you should do to combat spam instead:
1) Mark as spam or phishing. All email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) have a “Report Spam” button. Please use it. This feature trains your inbox to recognize and filter future junk. It also helps others by flagging known spam sources without turning the spammer over.
2) Block sender (but knows it’s temporary): Blocking senders is helpful, but temporarily, because spanmers often use rotating addresses. It’s an ongoing game, but still has short-term value.
How to block senders on major email platforms:
- Gmail: It will open Email >Click 3-dot menu > block [sender]
- Outlook: It will open message >Click 3-dot menu > Block or Report
- yahoo mail: It will open Email >Click 3-dot menu > Block sender
- Apple Mail (iCloud): Tap Sender’s name > Block this contact
3) Use built-in email aliases or disposable tools. Before switching to a third-party service, it’s worth checking out what your current email provider already offers. Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo have handy tricks to separate junk from legal messages without signing up for something new.
Here’s how it works on major platforms:
- Gmail: When signing up, add a plus sign (+) and keyword to your regular address (for example, yourname+shopping@gmail.com). Emails still arrive in your inbox, but now you can see who leaked your information and created a filter to organize or block it.
- Yahoo Mail (Plus User): You can create up to 500 disposable email addresses. These are full of alternative addresses that can be disabled or removed if spam begins.
- Outlook: Microsoft can create and manage “alias” address It is linked to an existing Outlook account. These aliases are used to send and receive emails and help you keep your primary address private.
This trick is great for organizing your inbox, tracking how email is being used, and filtering out spam before it becomes an issue. Check out our complete how-to guide here: How to Create a Disposable Email Address.
Gmail on tablet (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
4) Upgrade to Spam Killer Inbox Service: Anonymous email tricks are smart moves, but if you have full control over spam, privacy and organization, a dedicated alias email service is the best option.
an Alias email address Additional addresses to forward to your primary inbox. You can receive messages without publishing the actual email. Using a variety of aliases for online sign-up, shopping, newsletters and more, you can easily manage your incoming emails and remove aliases when you need them to turn off spam instantly.
Additionally, creating multiple aliases will prevent your actual email addresses from getting full of junk or being compromised by a data breach. This is one of the easiest ways to keep you organized and safe online.
Want to find the best safe and private email service? Check out my full review here.
Your email has not expired. It’s just a sly scam
5) Use the burner email service for short-term sign-ups. If you want a layer of separation from your personal inbox, the burner email service is the best option. They create temporary email addresses that you can use to quickly sign up in your real inbox without commitment or spam.
Burner Mail is especially useful.
- Free trial version
- present
- A scenic site
- One-time form or download
You can see a A comprehensive list of popular temporary email services This generates disposable addresses that last from minutes to hours. It offers features like anonymous inbox, attachment support, browser extensions, and simple expiration dates to protect your privacy and reduce spam.
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Important takeouts in your cart
Unsubscribe from suspicious emails can do more harm than good, so it’s best to mark them as spam and block the sender instead. Filter messages using the built-in tools from email providers, create aliases, and track where spam comes from. For short-term sign-ups, disposable email services are a great way to protect your real inbox. Also, if you want long-term control and privacy, switching to a secure email service is the best way to keep your inbox clean.
Have you found any tricks that actually help you stop spam? Write us and let us know cyberguy.com/contact.
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