Why Am I Getting Junk Mail In My Inbox?

Written By:

Burner Team

Reviewed By:

Joshua Sosin

Table Of Contents

Your email inbox is more than just a virtual mailbox. It's a gateway to your personal and professional life. However, with the increasing digitization of communication, there's a downside we all experience — the relentless bombardment of junk mail, also known as spam emails.

We’re going to arm you with everything you need to know about unwanted messages. This includes understanding junk mail, exploring its origins, its impact on your email account, and, most importantly, how to get rid of it.

When it stopping spam emails, knowledge is your best weapon.

What Is Junk Mail?

Junk mail is the digital equivalent of pesky flyers clogging up your mailbox. These are unsolicited messages that find their way into your inbox, often in large quantities. They come in various shapes and sizes, each with its own level of annoyance or potential harm.

Let's break down some of the most common types of junk mail.

Marketing Emails

These are the digital flyers of the email world. They're usually harmless, promoting products or services from companies you've never heard of. While they can be a nuisance, they're generally low-risk unless they start to overwhelm your inbox or take the form of phone calls.

Phishing Attacks

These are the wolves in sheep's clothing. Phishing emails masquerade as legitimate communications from banks, tech companies, or other trusted institutions. Their purpose is to trick you into revealing sensitive data like passwords or credit card numbers. They often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly.

Lottery Scams

Ever received an email telling you you've won a lottery you don't remember entering? That's a lottery scam. These spam emails lure you with the promise of a large cash prize, but there's always a catch. You're usually asked to pay a fee or provide personal information to claim your "prize.” It's always important to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Charity Scams

These spam messages intend to tug at your heartstrings, claiming to represent a charity or individual in dire need of donations. However, the "charity" is often just a lie that’s designed to trick kind-hearted individuals into handing over their money to eagerly awaiting scammers.

Chain Letters

These are the digital versions of old-school chain mail. They encourage you to forward the message to multiple people, often promising good luck or threatening bad fortune if you break the chain. While they may seem harmless, they're still a form of spam and can clog up inboxes quickly.

How Do Spammers Get My Email Address?

Ever wondered how spammers got a hold of your email address in the first place? The unfortunate truth is that your email address, like a ship adrift on the vast ocean of the internet, can be picked up in various ways.

Here are some of the most common methods:

Data Breaches: When a company's database is hacked, the information stored within, including email addresses, can be stolen. These data breaches are a goldmine for spammers, and once your email address is in the wrong hands, it can be sold or used for spamming purposes.
Malware: Some spammers use malicious or malware software to gather email addresses. This software can infect your computer through a dodgy download or a click on an unsafe link. Once installed, it can access your contact lists and send them back to the spammer.
Email Harvesting and Web Scraping: Spammers use various tools and programs that automatically scan web pages for email addresses. These tools, known as email harvesters or web scrapers, trawl through websites, forums, and even social media platforms, collecting any email addresses they find.
Online Forms and Subscriptions: When you sign up for an online service, subscribe to a newsletter, or fill out a form on a website, your address is often added to an email list. While reputable companies will respect your privacy, not all do, and some may sell your email address to third parties, including spammers.
Social Media: Your public profile on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn can be a source of your email address for spammers. If your email address is visible in your bio or contact information, it can be easily picked up.
Domain Registrations: If you've registered a domain name for a website, your contact information, including your email address, may be publicly available in the WHOIS database unless you've opted for privacy protection.

Why Is Junk Mail a Problem?

Junk mail or spam emails are more than just a digital nuisance. They're an unwelcome intrusion, a drain on your time, and sometimes a threat to your online security.

Here are a few reasons why junk mail is a problem that deserves your attention.

Psychological Impact

Receiving a lot of spam is like having your personal space invaded. It can cause stress and anxiety as your inbox becomes cluttered with unwanted emails. As your inbox starts to resemble a junk folder, it becomes harder and harder to find those that matter. This constant bombardment can also lead to a phenomenon called "email fatigue," where you become overwhelmed and frustrated with managing your inbox.

Time Consumption

For every minute you spend sifting through spam mail in your inbox and spam folder, that's a minute taken away from your productivity. While it might not be difficult to delete these unwanted emails and unsubscribe from mailing lists you never signed up for, it can quickly become a tedious daily routine.

Security Threats

Not all junk mail is harmless. As we mentioned earlier, some are designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information. If you’re not careful, phishing emails can lure you into providing personal data, financial information, or login credentials. Falling for these scams can lead to identity theft or financial loss.

Impaired Performance

An excessive amount of spam can affect your email storage, especially if you're using a free email service with limited storage capacity. Once your storage is filled up with spam, there might be no room left for important emails.

Risk of Missing Important Emails

With a flood of spam emails, there's a risk that important emails might get lost in the clutter or mistakenly identified as spam by your email service provider.

Unwanted Subscriptions

If you don't take the time to hit the unsubscribe button, you're basically giving spammers the green light to continue filling your inbox with junk. This adds to the clutter and signals to spammers that your email address is active, which could lead to even more spam.

Is There Anything Being Done About Spam Emails?

Yes, efforts are being made globally to combat the spam email problem. These efforts take the form of legislation, technological advancements, and public awareness campaigns.

In the United States, the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM Act) is the primary law governing unsolicited emails. Enacted in 2003, it sets the rules for commercial emails, establishes requirements for commercial messages, and gives recipients the right to have businesses stop emailing them. It also spells out tough penalties for violations, including hefty fines.

Across the pond in Europe, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a game-changer. Implemented in 2018, the GDPR is one of the strictest data protection laws in the world. It places stringent rules on how personal data, including email addresses, is collected, stored, and used. Violations of GDPR can result in fines of up to 20 million Euros or 4 percent of the company's global annual turnover, whichever is higher.

If you're being flooded with email messages that violate these regulations, you can take action to make it stop. In the US, you can report such emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov or use the complaint form on their website. You can report GDPR violations to your country's data protection authority in the EU.

What Can I Do to Prevent Junk Mail?

The most popular email providers, such as Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail, and Yahoo Mail, do a commendable job of keeping your inbox clean. Each one uses built-in spam filters and authentication methods to scan your incoming emails. Most of these email filters operate automatically, so they’re already running when you activate your account.

Unfortunately, they’re not foolproof, and scammers are always coming up with new ways to bypass them. You can turn up the filter settings so they're a little more selective with what gets through, but you’ll almost certainly experience the occasional junk email that slips through the cracks.

But don’t worry because there are additional measures you can take to fortify your inbox.

1. Blocking Spam

One of the easiest ways to keep your inbox spam-free is to simply block senders who constantly bombard you with unsolicited emails. Most email platforms offer this feature, and it’s extremely easy to use. Just open the unwanted email, find the block option in the settings, and say goodbye to future emails from that sender.

2. Creating a New Email for Non-Essential Services

Consider setting up a separate email address for non-essential services or subscriptions. This keeps your primary email address off spam lists and helps maintain an organized inbox. Instead of having a junk folder attached to your primary email address, it’s basically like having a junk email address. Just make sure no important information is attached to this secondary email.

3. Practicing Safe Online Habits

It's important to stay vigilant about sharing sensitive information online. It’s never a good idea to share personal information such as your phone number, physical address, Social Security number, or credit card information via email.

Also, be wary of clicking on links in suspicious emails, as they could lead to malicious websites or download harmful software onto your device. Regular software updates are also key, as they often include enhancements to spam filters and security features.

4. Understanding Email Headers and Subject Lines

Learning how to read email headers can help you identify potential spam sources. Pay attention to the subject line. Spammers often use sensational or alarmist subject lines to trick you into opening their emails. Use your judgment, and if the subject line seems suspicious and you don’t recognize the sender, it's best to avoid opening the email.

5. Using the Unsubscribe Link Wisely

Legitimate emails usually include an unsubscribe link, often tucked away at the bottom. If you no longer wish to receive emails from a sender, this link can be a godsend. However, be cautious when it comes to obvious spam emails. Clicking the unsubscribe link in a spam email can confirm to the spammer that your email address is active, potentially leading to more spam.

6. Reporting Spam

If you receive spam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission, your email provider, and the sender’s email provider if possible. This not only helps you, but it also helps others too. By reporting spam, you’re helping these institutions crack down on junk mail and helping email services improve their spam filters, making everyone's inbox safer.

7. Exploring Third-Party Email Management Tools

Spam is a frustrating experience for just about everyone. So, it makes sense that numerous third-party email management tools are available for iPhones, Androids, Macs, and PCs. No matter what you prefer, these tools can help manage and block spam, providing additional protection for your inbox.

Trash the Junk Mail for Good

Keeping your inbox free from spam isn't just about cleanliness — it's about ensuring a safe and secure communication space. When it comes to junk mail, taking a proactive stance is key. This means not just deleting spam emails, but reporting them, blocking the senders, and fine-tuning your email provider's spam filters to catch them in the future.

Beyond your email inbox, it's also important to protect your phone number from spam. That's where tools like Burner come in handy. Burner provides you with anonymous numbers that you can use for different parts of your life, helping you set boundaries and keep unwanted calls and texts at bay.

Remember, you're not powerless against the tide of spam. With the right tools and a bit of vigilance, you can take control of your communications, ensuring that your inbox and phone number remain spam-free. After all, you wouldn't let anyone just barge into your home — why should your digital spaces be any different?

Get started with Burner today to keep your avenues of communication clean.

Sources

You’ve Won The Lottery! Well, Definitely Not, Since It’s A Scam — Here’s How You Avoid The Swindles | Forbes

Scam 'Charities' Will Take Your Money and Run | Federal Communications Commission

How We Became Infected by Chain E-Mail | The New Yorker

How Do Spammers Get My Email Address? | Microsoft Security Blog

How to Overcome Email Anxiety | Cleveland Clinic

How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams | FTC Consumer Advice

Quit or Pay: What To Do When You Run Out of Free Google Storage | Washington Post

CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business | Federal Trade Commission

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Definition and Meaning | Investopedia

FTC Unveils New E-mail Address for Deceptive Spam: Spam@uce.gov | Federal Trade Commission