Keeping your inbox tidy often starts with tapping “unsubscribe.” After all, nobody likes a flood of spammy emails.
But that simple click can put you at risk. One recent report found that one in every 644 unsubscribe clicks leads to a malicious website. Because most scams target your wallet, good email hygiene is more than convenience; it protects your money.
When ‘unsubscribe’ can backfire
Clicking unsubscribe feels productive, yet it can be dangerous. Even legit-looking messages can hide bad links.
In 2022, 70% of Canadians experienced at least one cybersecurity incident, up from 58% in 2020. These included phishing attacks, malware, fraud and hacked accounts. DNSfilter, a cybersecurity firm, told the Wall Street Journal the aforementioned one in every 644 clicks it tracked landed on a malicious website.
Even if the page you reach is harmless, the act of clicking tells scammers you interact with links, making you a bigger target down the road.
"If it’s a bad actor that’s sending this email to you, and the email looks legit, but at the bottom it says, ‘Click here to unsubscribe,’ why would that link be any safer than ‘Click here to see if you won $5,000’?” Heidi Mitchell, a contributing writer to the Wall Street Journal, told WGAL.
Email hygiene that protects your money
A single bad link can cost you cash or hours of cleanup. To lower the odds, here’s what you can do:
- Skip every link from senders you do not recognize, even ones labeled unsubscribe
- Visit the company’s real website on your own and change email settings there
- If you do not have an account, mark the message as spam so future notes bypass your inbox
- Create a burner email for coupons, contests and other signups so your main address stays clean
When in doubt, do not click. Your wallet will thank you.
Sources
1. The Wall Street Journal: Think Twice Before You Click ‘Unsubscribe’, by Heidi Mitchell (Jun 9, 2025)
2. Statistics Canada: Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How cyber-safe are Canadians? (Oct 17, 2024)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.