What method were you using to change your password?
The easiest way is to log onto your email account then click on your username at the top right and go to "Account Info". Click on that then click on "Change My Password" and follow the prompts.
When you set up the new email account did you follow the procedure as per the following link and sub link.
How do I create and activate a new BT Email address? | BT Help
If you are keeping the email account for your self and not gifting the email account to another person you should be able to access the email account via your MyBT. This would then allow you to activate it.
To do that you log onto your MyBT then go to Your Products > Mail Manage. You should see all the email accounts that you have created and what their status is.
You can then go to your "Favourite" mailbox and click on your username at the top right. Select "Switch Account" and select the account you wish to access.
As regards the scam calls you get. This has nothing what so ever to do with BT. I know many people who do not have BT Broadband and the receive these calls. The scammers are working on the theory that BT being the biggest ISP in the UK they are bound to get somebody who is a BT customer.
