Currently, cyber fraudsters and dubious advertisers are sending out numerous Google calendar invitations. Instead of real appointments, these contain spam messages. We’ll show you how to protect yourself against it.

As if the digital calendars weren’t already overcrowded: Resourceful fraudsters and advertisers are now using the Google calendar to spread their spam messages that redirect to questionable websites. Even though the phenomenon has existed for some time, the sending waves are currently increasing.

A rather practical mechanism plays into the hands of the culprits: If you receive an appointment invitation, Google automatically takes it over in the calendars. It only becomes impractical when hundreds of spam calendar invitations are received and you lose track of your appointments.

Caution: Declining appointment invitations only makes it worse.

If you decline the invitations to remove the event from your calendar, the sender will receive a message. This will inform them that your email address exists and you will likely receive more spam messages.

What to do about the unwanted invitations in the calendar?

1. Open your Google Calendar.
2. Click on the gear at the top of the screen.
3. Now select “Settings”.
4. Under “Appointment settings” you will find the item “Automatically add invitations”.
5. Now set the selection box to “No, only show invitations to which I have responded.”.
6. Now only events to which you have replied will be displayed.