Red Flags to Avoid Being Scammed When Unsubscribing Emails: Scambusters #1,169
Email scams are everywhere. Scammers try to sell fake products or trick you into giving them your personal information. They use sneaky methods to fill your inbox with these messages to scam you.
Unsubscribe and Opt-Out Links! Are they Safe?
Many of us are familiar with the feeling of having too many emails in our inbox. Often, these are from lists we don’t remember joining. To help with this, most emails include an "unsubscribe" or "opt-out" link at the bottom.
A genuine unsubscribe or opt-out request typically originates from a legitimate company or organization. However, not all unsubscribe links are safe, and clicking them can sometimes lead to more problems instead of solving them.
Is Clicking "Unsubscribe" Safe?
Not always. Legitimate companies include unsubscribe links to follow email rules, but scammers may use fake links to trick you. If the link is unsafe, here’s what can happen:
- Phishing Access – Clicking an unsafe link can direct you to a fake website designed to steal personal details like login credentials or credit card information.
- Tracking Confirmation – Scammers often include links that notify them you’ve interacted with their email. This confirms your email address is active, making you a target for further spam.
- Malware – Scammers can attempt to download malware when you click on a link.
How To Determine if an Unsubscribe Link is Safe
- Check the Sender’s Email – Legitimate businesses will have a recognizable, professional domain (e.g., support@example.com). Random email addresses or domains with unusual spellings are red flags.
- Hover Over the Link – Hover your cursor over the unsubscribe link before clicking. If the destination URL looks suspicious or unfamiliar, don’t click it.
If you're not sure about an email or don't recognize the sender, don't interact with it. Instead, mark it as spam or go to the company's website to update your email preferences if you trust it.
Does Opt-Out Work?
Legitimate emails usually have opt-out links that work well. When you opt-out, the sender should take you off their mailing list within a few business days.
Some scam emails include fake opt-out options that don't really stop future emails. Instead, these forms can confirm your email address and lead to more spam.
If you keep getting emails after you unsubscribe, the sender might be a scammer. Mark those emails as spam to keep your inbox clean.
Can Scammers Spoof Email Addresses?
Scammers will do anything to get you to reply. They may use fake email addresses and add links to unsubscribe or opt-out. Their goal is to gain your trust so they can steal your personal information.
Scammers can fake email addresses by tricking email systems into showing a made-up sender name or domain. This spoofing makes emails look like they come from trusted sources, such as your bank, social media, or government organizations. The scammer is attempting to gain your trust once again.
Spoofing itself doesn’t require access to your account. It’s a way for scammers to impersonate others without breaching your email. However, spoofing is often part of larger phishing schemes designed to steal sensitive information.
Indicators of Spoofed Emails
- The sender’s name doesn’t match the email address.
- Poor spelling, grammar, or formatting in the email body.
- Act now to keep your account active. If you don't respond immediately, your account will be deactivated.
Does Blocking an Email Address Work?
Blocking a sender ensures their emails won’t land in your inbox. However, here’s what happens behind the scenes:
- Blocked emails are typically redirected to the spam or junk folder.
- Some email services immediately delete blocked emails, depending on your settings.
Scammers cannot see directly if their email is blocked. However, they might guess it if their emails bounce back or if they stop getting responses to their phishing attempts.
Blocking an email can stop a scammer from emailing you directly, but the scammer will still try to contact you by simply using another email address.
This is why using email filters and reporting spam is important, as it helps block patterns of malicious behavior rather than just individual senders.
Red Flags for Emails from Blocked Addresses
If blocked senders are still reaching your inbox, here’s what to look out for:
- Slightly Altered Email Addresses – Scammers often tweak email addresses to bypass filters. An example would be support@brand.com to supp0rt@brand.com.
- Disguised Attachments – Phishing emails might use fake attachments or links to get you to engage with them.
- Repetition – Frequent identical emails from multiple addresses may indicate an ongoing attack.
Mark such emails as spam and avoid further interaction.
What Happens When You Report Spam or Block Phishing Emails?
When you mark an email as SPAM, your email provider takes note. Here's how your action helps:
- Filters Are Updated – Your email provider uses this data to improve spam filters.
- Reports Are Sent to Security Databases – Some email providers forward phishing reports to anti-spam organizations or cybersecurity agencies to investigate and take action.
Reporting does not directly alert the scammer, but it is important for keeping email systems safe and clean.
Resources
Check out the two helpful videos below on removing unwanted emails.
Conclusion
Email security is important in today’s digital world. Unsubscribe and opt-out links can help manage your inbox, but they can also be risky if not handled properly. Always check where the email is coming from, use trusted filtering tools, and avoid emails from unknown or suspicious senders.
If you want to improve your email security, turn on two-factor authentication, update your passwords regularly, and keep your antivirus software current. Learning about scams, spoofing, and phishing techniques can help protect your inbox and personal information from threats.
Stay Informed! Stay Safe!