Google Docs is widely used for team collaboration and easy document sharing. However, the ease of using such platforms has also drawn spam and phishing attacks. To protect your workspace and personal information, it’s important to take proactive steps to stay safe from Google Docs spam.
Want to stay safe from Google Docs spam? This article discusses tips and steps to report documents on Google Drive on the web and mobile app.
Tips to stay safe from Google Docs spam
To stay safe while using Google Docs, here are some crucial tips:
- Verify the sender: Avoid opening documents shared by unknown or suspicious sources. Google Docs spam often comes in shared documents containing malicious links or phishing attempts. Verify the sender’s identity before accepting if you receive unexpected sharing requests.
- Avoid clicking on unverified links: Don’t click on links within a Google Doc unless you trust the sender. Hover over links to preview the URL; refrain from clicking if it looks unfamiliar or suspicious.
- Delete suspicious documents: If you encounter a document that seems suspicious or was shared unexpectedly, do not hesitate to delete it. Google Docs allows users to remove access to shared documents or delete them entirely. Deleting suspicious documents can prevent potential security risks.
- Report the document: If you encounter any suspicious activity or believe you have received spam through Google Docs, report it to Google immediately. This helps Google improve its security measures and prevents similar threats from affecting other users.
Also read: How to stop getting spam on Google Drive?
How to report suspicious docs?
All the documents you receive on Google Docs will be available on your Google Drive, and Google Drive can report the documents you think are spam.
Report docs on Google Drive on the web
Step 1: Click on the document that you want to report and click on the Triple vertical dots icon. To select multiple documents, press the Ctrl key on your keyboard and click on all the documents you want to report.

Step 2: In the dropdown menu, hover over the Report or Block option and click the Report option. For a single document, you will also see the Block option.

Step 3: Choose the type of abuse. If you want to block the user or users, checkmark the box and click the Report button.

Alternate step: A simpler step is to report any document as spam. You have to click and drag the document to the Spam folder. If you want to drag multiple documents, press Ctrl and click on the documents to select them and then drag them to the Spam folder.

Also read: iCloud spam email: Everything you need to know
Report docs on the Google Drive mobile app
For single document

- Open the Drive app on your phone and tap the Menu (Triple vertical dots) icon beside the document.
- In the dropdown menu, scroll to the bottom and tap the Report option.
- Choose the type of abuse, checkmark the box to block the user, and tap the Report button.
For multiple documents

- Tap and press on a document, then tap on all the documents you want to report. After that, tap on the Triple vertical dots icon at the top right corner of the screen.
- In the menu at the bottom of the screen, tap Report.
- Choose the type of abuse, checkmark the box to block the user, and tap the Report button.
Also read: How to stop spam emails?