The increase in spam emails in your Outlook account could be attributed to several factors. First, your email address may have been exposed through data breaches or shared on public platforms, leading spammers to target you. Second, if you have subscribed to newsletters or services that sell your information, this could also result in a surge of spam. Additionally, if your email settings are not configured to filter out spam effectively, it may allow more unwanted emails to reach your inbox. Lastly, engaging with spam emails, such as clicking links or responding, can confirm to spammers that your email is active, prompting them to send even more unsolicited messages.
To mitigate this issue, consider updating your privacy settings, using spam filters, and being cautious about sharing your email address in the future.