I have a backup cell phone. It rarely ever rings. The number that I have had for years on the main cell is out of control with spam of one type or another. So...I want to change to a new number.

I am not sure I understand the risk involved in not deleting the current email address I have had for years. I have most of the spam under control but some I just have not been able to get rid of.

I have many vendor accounts tied to the phone number and email address.

What happens if I delete both and forget to inform one of the vendors? PreSonus for example.

Billy

Is the email address from a domain you own, or a free one?

If the email is with a domain you own, I'd try something like Spam Stops Here filtering before cancelling it. If it is a GMail account or Yahoo or similar you won't be able to.
You can whitelist/blacklist whatever you want using a service like that. The challenge is you need to know how and have the option to change your DNS MX records for the domain to point to them first.

https://www.greenviewdata.com/wiki/SpamStopsHere_Quick-Start
https://control.greenviewdata.com/login .. click Register Here ..

We have customers using M365, Google Business, etc. and still want this spam filtering, as according to them it improves their mailbox significantly.
Not too expensive .. well at least for us as we happen to be a long time vendor with them.
They got bought out by ZIX so it seems it is getting harder to create a basic SSH account with them, as ZIX wants to sell you more services in one of their packages .. but the second link appears to allow signing up.

Another option is to first have the old email forward to a new email .. then reply/notify the desired vendors of the email change so they can verify etc, before cancelling the old account. Ignore the spam accounts before cancelling, and then when comfortable delete it (or stop checking it).

I had an issue where I lost an email address due to lack of use (it was really old) and it turns out it was used for here at PGMusic.

I logged into the forum, used the Chat function where they could kind of verify who I was since I was logged in and they were happy to change it.
If you actually delete the old account, any vendor/supplier could verify you did delete it by getting an email delivery error, and then most likely be willing to believe your email change.
Sometimes a phone call works wonders too, as then they know your number and who you are .. so more likely to grant the change.

I changed my phone number and email address and there has been a 98% reduction in unwanted calls and emails.

Who knows how long it will last?

Billy

I have 2 email addresses. One for me and one for other things. The other one is full of nigerian princes and car warranty offers..... It just sits there and I occasionally go in to clear it. I use it for things I might be interesting in getting info on but maybe not....

My personal email is used for business, and personal, and I will unsubscribe from the occasional spam or irritating repetitive emailers.

I've had the same cell phone number ever since I got my first car mounted cell over 30 years ago. I get very few spammers calling and now the phone ID's the calls as "POSSIBLE SPAM CALL" and if I don't recognize it, I ignore it. I don't have voice mail set up so if someone is actually needing me..... they can call back.

It'll last for as long as you don't use them for anything public would be my guess. <grin>
Once you use the email for something that you don't read the Terms for ("we will only contact you when we or our affiliates .. " type stuff) .. once you do that all bets are off. It's almost impossible to avoid these days.

Then again email addresses have also been publicized by breaches as well, so even if you are diligent on agreements the next guy in line may not be so security oriented.
So basically; it'll last for a 'while'.
But I'm guessing the whole process wasn't really that painful. So the next time may start feeling routine.

Simply changing internet providers (ISPs) has caused this need here recently, and even though the spam wasn't *terrible, the reduction after doing so was a noticeable bonus to the reduced cost.

Apparently it's just a part of internet life these days.
As far as phone numbers, my provider marks most suspected spam calls as such (like a previous poster also said), so pretty easy to avoid. If I don't recognize it, I don't answer.

I assume my actions can only delay the inevitable. I just moved and have many new contacts which are not on my phone that I must deal with. So it is impossible to not answer just because I don't recognize the number. But...I have most things moved to the new phone.

Some of the consistent emails are from legitimate companies that send me unwanted emails. I have spoken to them on the phone and asked to be removed from their list. They agree to do so but it never happens.

The internet is becoming less useful, less friendly, more dangerous, and more necessary at the same time. Much of the research I use to do for free now costs significant amounts of money.

Well, I guess it is true...there is no free lunch and other sins we will be obliged to atone for.

ḥēṭə’ hā‘ēgel

Billy