How to Stop Getting Spam Emails

Are you tired of seeing spam, scam, and junk messages in your inbox every day? You’re not alone. Spam messages are not only annoying, they can also be dangerous. Some are phishing attempts, while others flood your inbox with offers you never asked for.

Fortunately, there are simple ways to reduce or stop unwanted email. From built-in message filtering tools to smart reporting features, this guide covers everything you need to know to protect your inbox.

Report Junk Messages to Train Your Email Provider

When you see an unwanted message in your inbox, don’t just delete it; report junk instead. Most email services include a “Report Spam” or “Report Junk” option that teaches your provider which messages are unwanted. This helps your inbox improve over time.

• In Gmail, select the message, then click the stop sign icon to report spam.
• In Apple Mail, swipe left and tap “Move to Junk.”
• In Outlook, click “Report” or “Junk” from the top menu.

By using the report messages feature consistently, your email service will send future emails from that sender straight to the spam folder.

Avoid Accidentally Reporting the Wrong Email

It’s easy to accidentally report a real message as spam, especially if you’re trying to clean out your inbox quickly. When you accidentally tapped “report,” check the junk folder right away. If you see an email there by mistake, select it and click “Not Spam” or “Move to Inbox.”

Many services let you undo this action within seconds. You can also add the sender’s information to your contacts list so their messages don’t get marked again.

Use Message Filtering Tools

Turning on message filtering can help keep your inbox clean. Most email providers allow you to:

• Sort emails by known and unknown senders
• Move promotional content to a different tab
• Send emails from blocked domains directly to trash

For iPhone users, the messages app lets you filter unknown senders in your text messages too. Go to Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders to keep text messages from people not in your contact list in a separate tab.

Android users can find similar spam filters inside their default messaging or email apps.

Mark Messages as Junk Without Deleting

When you mark messages as junk instead of deleting them, your email service knows to block similar messages in the future. Just deleting spam does not help filter it out in the long run.

If you get the same junk messages repeatedly, this step is especially helpful. You can also tap report junk directly within your email or messaging app. Over time, your provider learns to handle these messages more effectively.

Block Repeated Senders

Some spam messages come from the same address or domain over and over. When that happens, use the block feature instead of just reporting the message.

• Gmail: Open the message, click the three-dot menu, and choose “Block [sender].”
• iPhone: Tap the contact and scroll down to “Block this Caller.”
• Outlook: Right-click the message and select “Block Sender.”

Blocking is useful for stopping unwanted messages, especially when reporting isn’t enough.

Message as Junk: What It Really Does

When you select “message as junk” in your email or text app, it does more than just move the message out of your inbox. It teaches your provider what kind of content you don’t want to receive messages from in the future.

This is especially helpful for stopping more spam. If enough users report junk, the provider may block future emails from that sender system-wide. This helps protect you and others from scam attempts or shady advertisements.

However, using this option too often or without checking the sender’s information may lead to good messages being mislabeled. That’s why it’s important to double-check before clicking “junk.”

Avoid Accidentally Reporting Good Emails

Let’s say you’re quickly clearing your inbox and you accidentally tapped “report spam” or “delete and report junk.” It happens to everyone. The key is knowing how to avoid accidentally reporting messages you actually want to keep.

Start by slowing down and checking for:

• Misspellings or strange grammar
• Unknown or masked email services
• Suspicious-looking links

If the email address seems familiar or the conversation is part of a thread you recognize, avoid marking it as junk. Many apps now give you a short window to undo this action, so take a moment to review.

You can also learn how to stop related types of spam with our guide: How to Opt Out of Credit Card Offers.

How to Receive Messages You Actually Want

To make sure you receive messages from important senders, follow these steps:

• Add the phone number or email to your contacts
• Check your spam folder regularly for false positives
• Mark good messages as “Not Junk” or “Move to Inbox”
• Use tap filters or labels to separate real emails from ads

For more permanent control, adjust your email or text settings to allow only messages from your contact list. This limits the risk of unwanted email or scams reaching you.

Protecting Your Phone Number from Spam Texts

Spammers often get your phone number from public records, online forms, or leaked data. Once they have it, you may receive scam texts or robocalls.

Here’s how to cut down on spam numbers:

• Avoid entering your number on sketchy websites
• Use a secondary number for sign-ups
• Report spam texts to your carrier by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM)

This number works with most major U.S. carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

For more details, visit the FTC’s official guide:

How to Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages (FTC.gov, updated 2024)

You can also reduce calls and texts by registering with the National Do Not Call Registry, which limits marketing messages from legitimate companies.

See also our article on How to Handle Unwanted Calls (https://credit.org/financial-blogs/using-the-do-not-call-registry-to-reduce-unwanted-calls).

Final Tip: Permanently Delete Problem Messages

Some spam messages can be permanently deleted. While reporting and blocking are helpful, deleting known junk messages right away reduces clutter and lowers your risk of clicking something harmful.

Still, never reply to or engage with spam. Doing so may confirm your email or number is active, leading to even more spam in the future.

If you’ve gotten malware or been compromised through a malicious email, you might want to check out your credit report to make sure no one has opened any new accounts in your name. Check out our free “Identity Theft Prevention” course, or call us for a credit report review today.