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The '+' Email Trick

· 3 min read
Milioto Pietro
Milioto Pietro
Sys Admin

"The '+' Email Trick: How to Track Spam and Filter Your Fitness Subscriptions"​

We’ve all been there. You sign up for a new gym membership, order a tub of protein from an online fitness store, or download a "free" workout PDF, and boom—two weeks later, your inbox is flooded with spam.

But what if you could track exactly who leaked or sold your email address? And better yet, what if you could automatically filter those emails without changing your inbox?

There is a dead-simple power-user feature built into Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud that you should start using today. It’s called Plus Addressing (or sub-addressing).

Here is how it works and how to set it up in 5 seconds.

The Trick: Just Add a "+"​

The concept is incredibly simple: your email provider ignores anything written after a plus sign (+) in the username, but still delivers the mail to your main inbox.

If your standard email is [email protected], you can modify it on the fly whenever you sign up for a new service:

To the website's database, this looks like a completely unique email address. But to Google or Microsoft, it’s just you. Every single email sent to those modified addresses will land right in your main inbox.

Why This is a Game-Changer​

1. Spot Data Leaks Instantly​

If you start receiving shady emails about crypto or sketchy supplements, just click on the email details and look at the "To:" field. If the email was sent to [email protected], you know exactly who leaked, lost, or sold your data.

2. Effortless Inbox Automation​

Instead of manually sorting your emails, you can set up automatic rules (filters) in your email client.

For example, you can create a rule that says:

"If an email is sent to [email protected], automatically apply the 'Supplements' label and bypass the primary inbox."

This keeps your inbox clean and ensures your focus goes to what actually matters.

Are There Any Downsides?​

While it works on 99% of modern websites, a few poorly coded forms might tell you that the + character is an "invalid email format."

If you are an Apple user with an iCloud+ subscription, you can bypass this completely by using the native "Hide My Email" feature, which generates a completely random, anonymous email alias for every site you visit.

Summary​

Stop giving away your raw email address. Next time you grab a discount code or sign up for a fitness newsletter, just drop a + and the name of the site. It takes zero effort and gives you total control over your digital footprint.