By Pressing the ‘Unsubscribe’ button on Gmail to avoid unwanted emails is no longer safe. Cyber criminals are committing fraud by stealing your information through these fake links.
Nowadays, online fraudsters are devising new ways every day and now they have adopted a method that most of us face every day – the ‘Unsubscribe’ button on email. If you too get annoyed by the many promotional messages coming on your email every day and press the ‘Unsubscribe’ button, then be careful! This has now become a new scam.
How does this new scam work?
Most people think that clicking on the ‘Unsubscribe’ button will get rid of unwanted emails, but now cyber criminals are trapping people by using this button. Scammers send you fake emails in which it seems that you have joined a newsletter or promotional site. When you click on the link to unsubscribe, the same link shows that your email account is active and after this your information starts being targeted.
Unsubscribe link becomes a trap
The unsubscribe link in these fake emails has a type of tracking code hidden in it. As soon as you click on it, scammers come to know that your email is being used. After this, they try to trap you by sending even more fake job offers, tempting discounts or bank related messages. In some cases, such links can put malware in your device or steal sensitive information like passwords.
How to keep yourself safe?
- Stay away from unknown emails: If you receive an email from a person or company that you do not know, do not click on any link given in it.
- Mark as spam: Mark that suspicious email as spam in Gmail or any email service, this will prevent such mails in the future.
- Hide your email address: Use tools like ‘Hide My Email’ that prevent your real email from being exposed.
- Keep your security software updated: Always keep your antivirus and email apps updated to the latest versions to protect yourself from new threats.
- Click wisely: Think twice before clicking on any link – is this email really trustworthy?
Trusting every ‘Unsubscribe’ button in an email can now be dangerous. Scammers are waiting for your one click so that they can target you. Therefore, it is important that we remain alert and use technology wisely. If a little attention is paid, it is absolutely possible to protect ourselves from such online frauds.
Caution is the biggest protection.