4 Steps to Stop Spam Calendar Invites

If you’ve ever opened your calendar to find random events for “free gift cards,” “crypto webinars,” or “urgent notifications,” you’re not alone. Spam calendar invites have become a frustrating new way for scammers to get your attention. These unwanted events often come from fake invitations sent through email or shared calendar links—and before you know it, they show up automatically on your calendar.

The good news is that you can stop them from showing up in the first place. With a few quick settings changes, you can protect your calendar (and your peace of mind).

Step 1: Understand the Problem

Spammers exploit calendar invitation systems by sending fake invites that automatically sync to your account. When these events appear on your calendar, they can include malicious links or phishing attempts disguised as “important” events. Even clicking “Decline” can confirm your email address as active, inviting even more spam.

Step 2: Adjust Your Settings to Prevent Future Invites

Here’s how to stop spam events before they appear on your calendar:

For Google Calendar:

• Go to Settings > Event settings

• Change "Automatically add invitations" to either: No, only show invitations to which I have responded, or Yes, but decline invitations from anyone I don’t know

For Outlook:

• Go to Settings > Calendar > Events from email

• Change the default to “Only show event summaries in email”

• You can also turn off this option entirely for specific event types

For Apple Calendar:

• Go to Settings > Calendar > iCloud (or your primary account)

• Set “Event Invitations” to Email instead of adding automatically

• You can also manage which calendars sync by going to Settings > Mail > Accounts

These small changes will help ensure that only events you’ve actually accepted or expect to receive will appear on your calendar.

Step 3: Be Cautious with Invitations

• Even with your settings updated, it’s important to stay vigilant:

• Don’t click on any links in spam invitations—they often lead to phishing or malware sites.

• Don’t respond with “Accept,” “Decline,” or “Maybe” to unknown senders, since that signals to spammers that your account is active.

• Move spam invitation emails to your junk or spam folder to help your email provider filter similar ones in the future.

Step 4: Keep an Eye on Your Privacy

If spam events keep appearing, review which apps or services have access to your calendar. Revoke access to any you don’t recognize or no longer use. It’s also a good idea to update your passwords and enable two-factor authentication to protect your accounts from unauthorized use.

Final Thoughts

Spam calendar invites can feel invasive, but with the right precautions, you can take back control of your schedule. By adjusting a few settings and staying alert to suspicious invitations, you’ll keep your calendar clean, your information safe, and your day running smoothly.