Getting a newsletter you never signed up for: where it comes from and how to stop it
A newsletter may only reach you if you expressly ordered it, usually through the double opt-in process with a confirmation link. If you receive advertising without this confirmation, it is not permitted, and you can demand that it stop.
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What you should do now
- 1
1. Unsubscribe
Use the unsubscribe link. Document it if emails keep arriving.
- 2
2. Ask about the origin
Request information about where your email address comes from and which consent the sending is based on.
- 3
3. Demand that it stop
If no consent can be proven, demand that the sending stop.
- 4
4. Escalate
If it continues, a cease-and-desist declaration and a complaint to the data protection authority may be options.
How to spot the scam
- You never received a confirmation email (double opt-in).
- The sender cannot prove the consent.
- Advertising keeps arriving after you unsubscribed.
Frequently asked questions
What is double opt-in?
A process in which, after signing up, you have to click a confirmation link so that the newsletter is activated. This ensures and proves that the consent came from you. Without this confirmation, sending it is generally not permitted.
What can I do about an unsolicited newsletter?
Unsubscribe and request information about the origin of your address and the claimed consent. If the sender cannot prove any consent, you have a claim to have it stopped.
Who has to prove the consent?
The sender. They must be able to prove that you expressly agreed to receive it. If they cannot, sending it is not permitted, and you can act against it.
Take action now
We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.
General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.