Sep 21, 2023
My external email address is being added to Google Groups without my permission.
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All Replies (3)
Oct 8, 2023
It's a huge flaw in Groups that Google refuses to address, using the excuse that it's a free service. In their world, offering a free service means that they can design their system so that spammers/scammers can use their system to abuse you by spamming your personal email and there's nothing you can do about it. This is inexcusable.
Oct 15, 2023
Bump.
Tons of SPAM from Groups in the past month or so since some enterprising criminal(s) discovered that they can add any address they want to their spam groups w/out any verification or recourse.
There is no way to permanently "opt out" in these cases since the targeted e-mail addresses are not part of any Google account. I'm talking about dozens or hundreds of addresses... even if it was somehow practical to add these to a Google account (to then opt-out), I have no desire to give all this data to Google.
I'm no lawyer but I'm pretty sure being added to mailing lists w/out consent is actually illegal in at least in some jurisdictions.
I've submitted several "feedback" forms to Google on this subject now, with zero response.
Google, FIX THIS.
You can stop this by following these steps:
- Go to groups.google.com on a computer (these steps won't work on a mobile device).
- Click the settings cog top right > Global settings.
- Untick "Add me to their groups".
- This stops spammers adding you to groups if they have your email address.
- You can also untick "Invite me to their groups".
- This stops anyone from inviting you to any group. Only do this if you don't use groups.
- Click Save.
If you're receiving these emails on a non-Gmail (non-Google) email address, the only workaround for this is to create a Google account with the email address you're receiving these emails on (click the "Use my current email address instead" option). You'll then be able to leave the group or use the unsubscribe link, and also be able to follow the steps above to prevent it reoccurring.
I’d encourage you to also send your feedback directly to Google. You will not receive a response, unless Google need more details from you, however the team are still reading the feedback.