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I am getting a lot of spam in my inbox

Spam is the collective name for unwanted messages and advertisements.

Getting too much spam in your mailbox is very annoying. The chances are that your e-mail address has ended up on a list of e-mail addresses that is used by different spammers.  That explains why you're getting more and more spam: they all use the same lists. That's why you keep getting these messages, even though you've blocked a number of senders, as other spammers can still use the lists.

Fortunately, you can do a lot to reduce the number of spam mails. We will help you on your way with some tips: It’s always better to prevent spam.

Are you really tired of spam? Then try the following tips:

Use multiple e-mail addresses

If you want to become a member of a website or forum where you have to provide an email address to receive a confirmation email, or if you want to participate in contests, you can use a different email address. This way, your most important mailbox will be protected against spam. 

You can create an alias of your official email address or you can create a temporary email address: 

Many e-mail providers give you the option of creating some extra e-mail addresses (aliases) for free:

If you want a temporary e-mail address, you can use 10minutemail or Mailer for example.

Manage your mailbox spam filter

Your e-mail provider already applies a spam filter for your incoming e-mails. You can adjust the settings yourself (and make them stricter). You will usually be able to block e-mails with a 'rule' based on:

  • Senders (remember that spammers like to use different addresses!)
  • Origin (e.g. block e-mails from certain countries entirely)
  • Content (certain words that appear over and over again).

More information can be found on the website of your e-mail provider.

Install an additional spam filter

By installing a spam filter in your mailbox, your e-mail provider will mark certain messages as spam. Depending on the filter, the spam e-mails will automatically disappear into a separate folder or will be deleted. There are free spam filters, and others that you pay for.

and many more besides

Block the sender via your mailbox

Don't be a spammer yourself

  • Put e-mail addresses in Bcc when you send an e-mail to a large group of people. If you send an email to multiple people, you can choose to enter the e-mail addresses in Cc or Bcc. If you put them in Cc, all recipients can see who else received the e-mail, but if you put them in Bcc, the recipients cannot see to whom else the e-mail has been sent. This way you minimize the chance that unwanted messages will be spread.
  • Don't forward chain letters. Forwarding a chain letter causes your e-mail address and that of your contacts to be spread, so you will receive more spam.
Beware of phishing!

Spam often has a commercial purpose and contains a reference to a product.

Phishing is an online scam involving fake e-mails, websites or messages. Cybercriminals lure you to a fake website that is a copy of the real website to steal login details, password or bank details. Never click on a link in a phishing message.

But how do you recognize these fake e-mails and how do you distinguish them from actual messages? More information can be found on our page about phishing.

 

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