Changing My Emil Address Due To Spam - Urgent Help!

[moggie 939]

I have had my email address for some years (do not use it for business). Over the last few months I have endured increasing spam up to 30 a day and some of them threatening and nasty saying they would send details of my searches etc to my contacts - I have done nothing wrong but am increasingly worried. Have tried everything on gmails like blocking and reporting phihing but still they come!
I am told the only way is to change my email address which is a bit long winded but I could do that. If I do should I go away from using my name as part of the email.
Any help is appreciated.
I did have a hotmail address some years ago which I never use now but believe this is now outlook
Thanks
Moggie

[murraymints]

I changed mine for the same reasons..and now have a personal e mail and one which is shared by the household for on-line purchases all or most of the rubbish goes there

[barry1010]

You can have as many email addresses as you want, I have several.
I have two gmail accounts, one which is used for 'proper' business such as banking, council, government gateway, DVLA etc and is made up of my proper name and has very little spam.

The other gmail address is made up of random letters and numbers and is used for websites that don't need my real personal information or banking details. That gets a bit more spam but not much.

If your spam email goes straight to the spam folder then it is quick and easy to deal with. If it is going in to your Inbox and is a real nuisance you should consider getting another email address.

In the past I have found it useful to block the domain but you need to be careful. It's this part of the email address '@spam.com' All well and good if it is unusual but you can't use it for domains such as gmail.com or gov.uk - you would be blocking important email.
These are some of the domains that I have blocked over the years:
@tgselskapsmat.no @220945.ds.nac.net @hkstar.com @currantbird.com

[moggie 939]

I could change to Outlook as I have Office 365 on my laptop - any ideas?
Thanks

[murraymints]

Then open one for personal use which may have a name..and another for buying ..banking etc with random address with no meaning

[barry1010]

Are you going to stick with Office 365? If so, use Outlook.
Your internet service provider probably has email you could use, too, but again only worth doing if you intend sticking with them.

I like GMail but there is no harm in opening an Outlook account now and see how you get on with it. If you're happy with it, you can use it for your important email contacts and create a different email address for casual use.

[moggie 939]

Thanks Barry1010
Yes I am with Office 365 all the time as I use it for Word. You said about my spam - some go direct to spam but most come into my Inbox - recently a lot just about missing parcels and the like but recently suggesting I look at sites which I do not!!
I am quite old and only use emails for ordering and emailing fiends - I do not bank online at all.
I could easily give my contacts a new address and alter sites such as Amazon etc to a new email address.
I do use Google for my photos and searching but understand I can continue with that and just remove GMail. This will keep my personal contacts on my PC and phone - does that sound plausible?
I feel that I cannot stay with GMail the way things are going and the emails worry my wife although she does not have any emails coming to her phone
Thanks
Moggie

[Prudie]

This must be very stressful for you. I may be wrong but I thought changing your password on your email can help to stop some spamming or hacking. Have you done that?

[barry1010]

Changing the password on the email address won't stop spam.

You can continue to use Google for browsing the website without having a GMail address so don't worry about that.

Open a new Outlook email address now, you are aware of how to change your details in your Amazon and other accounts so you are well able to do it.

[barry1010]

Ah! I've just noticed you use Google Photos - you do need a Google account for that but you might be able to change your email address
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/19870?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop#zippy=%2Coptions-if-you-cant-change-it

[barry1010]

Please ignore my previous answer. Changing to Outlook will not change your GMail account - you will still have it even if you never log in to it.
Your Google Photos won't be affected.

[Prudie]

I have a 365 hotmail (outlook) email that I've had for about 10 years in all its guises and use for all purchases etc and a personal email account through my ISP for about 20 and can honestly say I pretty much never ever receive a single spam email on either address. That can't be just luck?? I don't actually understand how these things work.

[moggie 939]

Thanks Barry and Prudie
I will get an outlook email acct today and cancel GMail after I have advised my contacts and changed Amazon etc.
I will keepjust Google somy photos contacts
and searching will be same
Thanks

[barry1010]

Don't cancel your Gmail, it is connected to your Google photos. Just stop using it

[Prudie]

Yes don't cancel gmail. I also have one but NEVER look at emails, not even sure how, but it seems to be an necessary evil to have when transferring anything onto new laptops, tablets, phones etc. It always asks you to sign in with gmail account details.

[moggie 939]

Barrie
I have got a new Outlook email address now (I have altered it in this site) May I ask a couple of questions to those familiar with Outlook?
I have tried every way to import my Google contacts into Outlook - it ticks as done but I cannot find them in Outlook Mail - am I looking wrong place?
And.......not important but the outlook mail comes up on a white background - can I make the background darker to help my eyes!?
Thanks again
Moggie

[barry1010]

Sorry, Moggie, I don't use Outlook so can't help you with that.
I'm sure others will be able to help

[THECORBYLOON]

This should help,

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/import-gmail-contacts-to-outlook-edbacfde-f48c-49da-a6a3-bcbb8f4f4819

[moggie 939]

Tried this Corby...
But did not work.serms very complicated
Thanks
anyway

[JimF]

No need to do any of the above. Simply configure gmail to allow you to receive emails only from recipients in your contacts.

https://www.journeybytes.com/how-to-filter-emails-sent-from-non-contacts-gmail/

[Togo]

You can change the background to dark mode by opening the outlook tab and top right click on the settings cogwheel. When the box drops down look for "dark mode" and use the slider. This will give you a black background with white text. If you don't like it you can toggle it back.