SCAM WATCH
OPINION: Cluttered inbox? How to unsubscribe safely
It鈥檚 tempting to seek control over a mountainous email pile by turning to the unsubscribe button, but it can be dangerous to do so if you don鈥檛 recognize the sender.
That鈥檚 because it could be a scam email, in which case, you just signaled that you鈥檙e a live human being with an active account 鈥� and one who engages with spam 鈥� and your email could be sold to other bad actors.
Worse, a faked email from a known company whose logo and other identifying features have been spoofed could send you to an unsafe place when you try to unsubscribe. It could, in fact, be a well-veiled effort to steal your login credentials.
While it鈥檚 generally safe to unsubscribe from something for which you signed up, there are other ways to disengage.
For example, some providers offer a built-in unsubscribe button at the top of the message. Those include Apple Mail, Outlook and Gmail. This is a safer option because it鈥檚 managed by the provider and not the email sender.
You can also mark a newsletter, marketing pitch or other unwanted emails as junk or spam.
Some warnings are part of a phishing scheme
If you are signed up for reward programs, beware of texts warning that your points are soon to expire.
These are sure to catch attention because who wants to lose out after watching points accrue toward sometimes lucrative benefits?
However, a federal agency is getting reports that some of these messages are bogus and part of a phishing scheme. The texts instruct consumers to click on a link to avoid immediate expiration.
This is nothing more than an effort to steal personal information or download harmful software onto the device, says the Federal Trade Commission.
Do not click. Instead, check point totals on the company鈥檚 app or website to see if they really are expiring.
Other steps recommended by the FTC:
Turn on phone filters to limit unwanted texts.
Update the phone鈥檚 software regularly to ensure you have the most recent patches and protections against security threats. 鈥淭hese can come in handy if you accidentally do click on a phishing link,鈥� the FTC says.
Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210, prompt 5. Complaints can be filed electronically at
