Is it safe to unsubscribe from spam you didn't sign up for?

We've all been there: Trying to clean out our inbox only to find that the same sketchy emails keep showing up, even after clicking "unsubscribe." Robert from Danville, Virginia, wrote in with a question that many of us can relate to.

"When you unsubscribe to a junk email that you know you didn't authorize, do you really unsubscribe and no longer get [emails]? I scroll to the bottom of the email and process the 'unsubscribe' function and even block the email using the block option within my email. Seems the same emails reappear. Is unsubscribing worth my time? Any remedies?" he wrote.

Robert, you're not alone in asking this, and the trust is more complicated (and frustrating) than you might think. While unsubscribing can work in some cases, there are situations where it might actually make things worse. Let's break down when it's safe to unsubscribe, when it's not and what you can do instead to take back control of your inbox.

Unsubscribing isn't always safe, especially with spam. If an email is from a legitimate business, like a store you bought something from or a newsletter you signed up for, it's usually OK to unsubscribe. These companies are bound by email marketing laws and will typically remove you. However, emails that you never signed up for are completely different. Here are the key differences.

Legit email

Spam/scam email

Not all unsubscribe links are safe. In fact, clicking on one in a suspicious email can make things worse by signaling to spammers that your address is active.

Avoid clicking unsubscribe if:

In these cases, clicking unsubscribe might invite even more junk mail instead of stopping it.

Here's what you should do instead to counteract spam.

1) Mark it as spam or phishing: Every email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) has a "report spam" button. Use it. This feature trains your inbox to recognize and filter future junk. It also helps others by flagging known spam sources all while not tipping off the spammer.

2) Block the sender (but know it's temporary): Blocking a sender can help, but temporarily, because spammers often use rotating addresses. It's a continuous game, but it still has short-term value.

How to block senders on major email platforms:

3) Use your email's built-in alias or disposable tools: Before switching to a third-party service, it's worth checking what your current email provider already offers. Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo have handy tricks for separating junk from legit messages without signing up for anything new.

Here's how it works with the major platforms.

4) Upgrade to a spam-killer inbox service: Anonymous email tricks are a smart move, but if you want full control over spam, privacy and organization, a dedicated alias email service is the way to go. 

Creating multiple aliases also protects your real email address from being flooded with junk or compromised in a data breach. It's one of the easiest ways to stay organized and secure online.

5) Use a burner email service for short-term sign-ups: If you want an extra layer of separation from your personal inbox, burner email services are a great option. They create temporary email addresses you can use for quick sign-ups with no commitment and no spam in your real inbox.

Burner emails are especially useful for:

Unsubscribing from suspicious emails can do more harm than good, so it's best to mark them as spam and block the sender instead. Use your email provider's built-in tools to filter messages and create aliases to track where spam is coming from. For short-term sign-ups, disposable email services are a great way to protect your real inbox. And if you want long-term control and privacy, switching to a secure email service is the best way to keep your inbox clean.

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