How to Identify and Report Spam or Phishing Emails

📌 Purpose

• This article provides steps for identifying and reporting suspicious emails, including spam and phishing attempts, to help protect Salve Regina users and systems.

👥 Audience

• Students
• Faculty
• Staff

🖥️ Applies To

• Outlook (Web and Desktop)
• Microsoft 365 Email

🛠️ Instructions

1. Review the message carefully. Do not click on any links or download attachments.
2. Look for signs of phishing:
   • Unfamiliar sender or spoofed address
   • Grammatical errors or urgent tone
   • Requests for sensitive information (passwords, bank info, etc.)
3. Report the message using the Microsoft Report Message feature:
   • In Outlook Desktop/Web: Open the message, then select Report > Phishing or Spam from the toolbar.
4. If you're unsure whether the message is legitimate, forward the email as an attachment to tsc@salve.edu for review.
5. Delete the suspicious message from your inbox and empty your Deleted Items folder.

💡 Troubleshooting & Tips

• Never share your password or sensitive information via email.
• When in doubt, report the message — it's better to be safe than compromised.
• You can also check the From address and hover over links (without clicking) to see if they look suspicious.