Hi Henk,
Unfortunately, if they are already landing in
Junk Email, Outlook/Microsoft’s filter is technically doing its job. The annoying part is that Outlook usually cannot “bounce” or stop them before they reach the mailbox. It can only
route,
delete, or
auto-purge them.
Because these messages have no usable
From address, normal
Block sender lists are mostly ineffective. Spammers often rotate or spoof sender data.
What I would try
1. Do not unsubscribe or open links
For casino/free-spin spam,
do not click unsubscribe unless it is from a company you genuinely recognize. With spam, that often confirms your address is active.
2. Check the real sender in the message headers
Microsoft specifically suggests checking the internet headers when the visible sender is misleading or hidden.
- Open one of the spam messages.
- In Outlook on the web/new Outlook, use View message details or View source/message headers.
- Look for headers such as:
Code:
Return-Path:
Authentication-Results:
Received:
From:
Reply-To:
- If you see a recurring real domain in
Return-Path, Reply-To, or Received, block that domain rather than the visible sender.
Microsoft notes that hidden or changing sender addresses are a common reason blocked-sender rules appear not to work, and recommends checking message headers and using rules for common wording.
3. Create a keyword rule for repeated phrases
If the subject/body always contains terms like
FREE SPINS,
free spins,
casino,
bonus, etc., create an Outlook rule.
- Go to Outlook.com or new Outlook.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Mail > Rules.
- Create a new rule.
- Condition: subject or body includes:
Code:
free spins
casino
bonus spins
welcome bonus
- Action: Delete or Move to Deleted Items.
- Save the rule.
Note: Rules may work better for messages that reach Inbox first. If Microsoft has already classified them as Junk before rules run, results can vary. But it is still worth testing.
4. Use “Report Junk” rather than only “Report Phishing”
If these are mainly gambling/casino ads rather than credential-stealing emails, use
Report Junk. Microsoft’s current Outlook reporting options distinguish between junk and phishing; reporting junk can also add the sender to the blocked list when possible.
5. Tighten Junk Email settings carefully
In Outlook classic:
- Go to Home > Junk > Junk E-mail Options.
- Try High filtering.
- Keep an eye on the Junk folder for false positives.
- Add important contacts/domains to Safe Senders.
Warning: Setting Junk filtering too aggressively can catch legitimate mail, so check Junk regularly for a while.
6. Consider using an alias
If your address is now on spam lists, filtering will only reduce the noise. A practical long-term fix is:
- Create a new Outlook alias.
- Use the new alias for trusted sites only.
- Keep the old address for sign-ins where changing it is difficult.
- Do not publish the new alias publicly.
This will not instantly stop spam to the old address, but it can greatly reduce future exposure.
Bottom line
There probably is no perfect “stop before delivery” option for a personal Outlook/Hotmail account. The best practical combination is:
- Do not interact with the messages.
- Report as Junk/Phishing as appropriate.
- Create keyword rules for repeated wording.
- Block real domains found in headers, not the fake visible sender.
- Use aliases for long-term cleanup.
If you can paste one sample message’s
headers here, remove your own email address first, I can help identify whether there is a consistent source/domain worth blocking.
