What is spam?
Spam is like junk mail for your inbox—emails you didn’t ask for and don’t want. Most email services, including BT, try to block these with spam filters.
Not all unwanted emails are spam. If a company you know (such as your energy company or a store) sends you marketing emails, that's not spam. It's legal, and you can usually unsubscribe safely.
Watch out for scams (aka phishing)
Some spam emails pretend to be from real companies to trick you into giving away personal info like passwords or bank details. This is called phishing.
Never click links and don't give out personal info in suspicious emails.
If you're concerned, do get in touch and send us the details: https://www.bt.com/help/security/scams
Top tips to deal with spam
Don’t click “unsubscribe” on spam. It tells spammers your email is real, and you’ll get more spam.
Don’t reply to spam. Same reason: it confirms your email is active.
Turn off images in emails. Some spammers track if you open their email using images.
Keep your email private. Don’t post it on websites or forums where spammers can find it.
Check the sender’s email address. Hover over the name to see if it’s really from who it says it is.
Never click suspicious links or give personal info – even if the email looks official.
What to do about marketing emails you don't want
- Unsubscribe safely. If it’s from a company you know, use the unsubscribe link (usually at the bottom of the email).
- Watch for opt-in boxes. When signing up for websites, uncheck boxes that sign you up for marketing emails.
- Use a spare email address. For websites you don’t fully trust, use a different email address to protect your main one.
Too many emails, try this
- Create folders and rules. Automatically move marketing emails to a separate folder.
- Mark spam as spam. Use the “Spam” button to help BT learn what to block.
- Block senders. Stop emails from specific addresses you don’t want to hear from.
What is spoofing?
Spoofing is when a spammer fakes the “from” address to look like someone you trust. Be cautious—even if an email looks familiar, check the actual email address.
If you see something illegal
If an email contains disturbing or illegal content (like child abuse material), report it immediately to the Internet Watch Foundation at https://www.iwf.org.uk/