Home | Internet Security | What Are Spam Emails and How Can I Prevent Them?

What Are Spam Emails and How Can I Prevent Them?

By Rebecca Edwards

Dec 09, 2021

2 min read

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review.

Spam emails are the electronic equivalent of all that junk mail you throw out after emptying the mailbox. Spam is primarily made up of unsolicited emails trying to sell you something or trick you into giving away crucial personal data.

Thwart hackers with the best internet security tips!

By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Types of spam emails

If you have an email account, chances are you’ve seen at least a few of these obnoxious spam messages.

Foreign banking scams (like that famed Nigerian prince who needs your help)
Phishing scams seeking out your personal info
“Make money fast” or “get rich quick” schemes
Solicitations for online dating
Ads for “miracle” medical cures
Ads from pornographic websites
Chain mail (Forward this message to six friends to get a super prize!)
Offers to help you improve your business, your love life, your hair growth, etc.

How to stop spam emails

The only way to completely eradicate spam from your life is to drop email altogether. Because that’s an unrealistic option for most of us, let’s look at ways to minimize the amount of spam coming your way.

1. Use a spam filter

Antivirus software with spam filter

Avast Internet Security

Visit Avast

All email services come with mailbox filters that help you sort out what kinds of emails you receive and where they go. You want to send emails from unknown senders to a junk folder where they’ll be automatically deleted after a set number of days.

Just keep in mind that sometimes legitimate emails may get erroneously relegated to the junk folder, so make sure to check it periodically and mark any senders you know as safe.

For extra protection install a third-party spam filter like Avast to block and delete blacklisted email addresses and scan for bad links and attachments.

2. Report spam emails

If a spam email somehow makes it into your inbox, be sure to mark it as spam so your email provider will recognize it as such in the future.

3. Ignore it

When you recognize a message as spam, don’t open it. If you open it before you realize it’s spam, hit delete. Never respond to a spam email, click on an unknown link, or open an unknown attachment.

4. Lock down your email address

Try to minimize how many people have access to your email address. If you can get away with it, don’t post your email on any public websites or forums—including social media and job-hunting websites.

If you have to post an email address online, consider setting up an alternate or disposable email account to keep your main email hidden. Check out Blur to learn more about disposable email.

Get extra help keeping out spam emails with anti-malware software that looks for suspicious elements before the email can make it to your inbox.

Compare the best internet security products

Brand	Best for	Starting price	Specs	Standout feature	Learn more
IdentityShield	Best identity theft protection	$179.50/yr.	$1 million recovery insurance	Two-factor authentication	View Plans
NordVPN	Best VPN	$59.98/yr.**	Works on 6 devices	5,100 servers 60 countries	View Plans
Bark	Best parental control	$39/mo.	Unlimited devices	Email and social media monitoring, powerful parental controls	View Plans
Bitdefender Total Security	Best antivirus/malware software	$59.99/yr.*	Protects up to 10 devices	Includes VPN and password manager	View plans
Dashlane	Best password manager	$0.00	Unlimited devices with Premium plan	VPN and dark web monitoring with Premium plan	View Plans

Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.
*First year only. Regular price $99.48/yr.
**First year only. Regular price $59.99/yr.

Written by

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past decade. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime and safety reports and spotting trends. Her expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. You can find her expert advice and analysis in places like NPR, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Real Simple, and an ever-growing library of podcast, radio and TV clips in the US and abroad.