Think Before You Click: Email Unsubscribe Scam Exposed

An increasingly common email practice—clicking "unsubscribe"—might not be as safe as it seems. Cybersecurity analysts are sounding the alarm on a scam that uses fake unsubscribe links to identify and target real email users, potentially leading to phishing attempts or data breaches.

Scammers are embedding deceptive unsubscribe links into spam emails that closely mimic genuine marketing messages. Instead of removing users from a mailing list, these links confirm that an email account is active. Once verified, these addresses are often targeted with a flood of future spam, phishing attempts, or malware-laden communications.

In some cases, the links redirect users to lookalike login pages or prompt users to enter credentials to "complete the unsubscribe process." Cybersecurity company DNSFilter reported that approximately 1 in every 644 unsubscribe links analyzed was tied to malicious content.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

* Use official unsubscribe tools built into your email platform, such as Gmail’s and Outlook’s list-unsubscribe button found at the top of many promotional emails.

* Mark questionable messages as spam instead of interacting with their contents.

* Avoid clicking unsubscribe links from unfamiliar or suspicious email sources.

* Enable privacy-enhancing features like Apple’s Hide My Email or browser-based email masking tools.

* Keep email applications and antivirus tools updated to catch the latest threats.

Cybersecurity professionals highlight that deleting unwanted emails or reporting them as spam is often safer than trying to opt out via embedded links. With scammers adapting tactics rapidly, being cautious with inbox management is more essential than ever.