Outlook.Live.Com Hotmail sending spam unsubscribes

Question

In my junk mail folder, suddenly I have a ton of auto response emails from spam messages that my account seems to be sending auto unsubscribe messages to.

So, spam comes in, my account somehow sends an "unsubscribe" message to them, and they auto-response back.

This just started happening, and I see no settings whatsoever that could cause this. I use my account on the web on my PC as well as on my iPhone in the iOS email app.

It's creating way more spam, and also letting the spammers know that they reached a real account. Really stupid functionality!

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi. I'm Brian and I'll try to help.

The AI left out one (and I believe the most likely) possibility and that is that the messages are, in fact, simply spam meant to alarm you and get you to act on the messages. Check your Sent Items folder. If you don't see any outgoing Unsubscribe messages, that supports my belief.

Answer 2

Outlook.com and the Outlook web client do not have any built‑in feature that automatically sends unsubscribe messages in response to junk mail. When unsubscribe replies are being sent automatically, it is almost always caused by one of the following:

1. A rule that is auto‑replying
2. A third‑party client/app or add‑in that is processing mail
3. Account compromise (someone or something else is sending from the account)

Because Outlook.com itself is not doing this by design, the key steps are:

1. Check rules in Outlook.com (web)
   Look for any rule that sends replies or forwards mail, especially for messages moved to Junk:
   • Sign in to Outlook.com in a browser.
   • Go to Settings > Mail.
   • Check Rules (and any similar automation sections) for rules that:
     • Trigger on junk/spam, or
     • Send a reply/forward, or
     • Interact with subscription/unsubscribe messages.
   • Disable or delete any suspicious or unknown rules.
2. Check rules/automation in all mail apps
   Since the account is also used in the iOS Mail app, review:
   • Any server‑side rules configured from other clients (e.g., classic Outlook on Windows or Mac, if ever used).
   • Any automation features or plug‑ins that might auto‑unsubscribe or auto‑reply.
3. Review subscriptions and avoid using “unsubscribe” on obvious spam
   For legitimate mailing lists, use Outlook.com’s subscription management instead of replying:
   • In Outlook.com, select Settings > Mail > Subscriptions.
   • From Your current subscriptions, select unwanted senders and choose Unsubscribe.
   • For senders that are clearly spam or malicious, do not unsubscribe; instead, mark them as junk or block them.
4. Block spam senders instead of replying
   For senders that are not legitimate lists:
   • In Settings > Mail > Subscriptions, use the three dots next to a sender and choose Block <sender>.
   • Alternatively, use the Junk controls in Outlook.com to mark messages as junk and block senders. This prevents more mail from those addresses without confirming that the mailbox is active.
5. Check for account compromise
   If no rules or apps explain the behavior, treat it as a possible compromise:
   • Change the account password immediately.
   • Review recent sign‑in activity in the Microsoft account security page.
   • Remove any unknown connected apps or delegated access.
6. Use Outlook’s junk controls to reduce spam volume
   To reduce how much spam arrives in the first place:
   • Ensure the Junk E‑mail Filter is enabled in Outlook clients that support it.
   • Keep external content blocked in messages from unknown senders so spammers cannot confirm the address via tracking images.
   • Avoid sending read receipts or delivery receipts to unknown senders.

If the behavior continues after removing rules, checking apps, and securing the account, contact Outlook.com support from the Help menu in Outlook.com and use the “Still need help?” path to reach an agent.

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References:

• 10 tips on how to help reduce spam
• How to manage email subscriptions in Outlook.com
• Mail goes to the Junk folder by mistake
• Sender Support in Outlook.com
• Receiving email from blocked senders in Outlook.com