How to stop spam emails
Mark spam as spam, unsubscribe from legitimate senders (CAN-SPAM requires them to honor it within 10 business days), block addresses or domains in your email settings, and report the rest at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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- consumer.ftc.gov
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- Spam calls, texts and email
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Step by step
- 1
Use your spam filter
Your email provider's spam filter is the first line of defense. When spam reaches your inbox, mark it as spam or junk.
- 2
Unsubscribe from legitimate senders
The CAN-SPAM Act requires legitimate marketing emails to include an unsubscribe option, and the company must honor your request within 10 business days.
- 3
Block addresses and domains
In your email provider's settings, block specific email addresses or domains (the part after the @).
- 4
Report what keeps coming
Forward unwanted messages to your email provider and report them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This includes senders who offer no way to opt out or who keep emailing after 10 business days.
- 5
Report phishing separately
If a message is a phishing attempt, forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org.
Watch out for
- Don't click links in suspicious messages. The FTC warns scammers use these emails to get personal or financial information.
- Unsubscribe only works on legitimate senders. For scam emails, filter, block and report instead.
- The 10 business days clock comes from CAN-SPAM, a US law. Other countries have their own rules.
- Spam filters learn from what you mark, so keep marking misses.
What stays out there
Filtering stops spam from reaching you. It doesn't stop the source. Spam usually arrives because your email address sits in lists that data brokers, people-search sites and breach dumps collect and resell, and blocking a sender doesn't remove your address from those lists.
Serus finds where your email address and other details are listed and removes them, and monitors breach databases and alerts you when your data appears.
Frequently asked
Why am I getting so much spam?
Your address has likely been collected into lists that get shared or sold. Filtering reduces what you see but doesn't remove the address from those lists.
Is it safe to click unsubscribe?
For legitimate senders, the FTC says CAN-SPAM requires them to honor it. For suspicious messages, the FTC warns against clicking links, so block and report instead.
How do I report spam email?
Forward it to your email provider and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For phishing, also forward it to reportphishing@apwg.org.
How long does a company have to stop emailing me?
The FTC says 10 business days after you ask to unsubscribe.
Sources
Related guide What Happens If Your Email Is on the Dark Web – And What to Do Next Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
