Identifying and Reporting Spoofing Emails
- Scott Gallagher
- Carson Henrich
Overview
With the increase in email spoofing attempts, faculty and staff need to understand how to identify suspicious emails and report them to prevent phishing attacks. Below are guidelines to help you recognize spoofed emails and report them using Mac and PC platforms.
How to Identify Spoofing Emails
Check the sender's email address
Spoofed emails may have a familiar name but use an unusual or unfamiliar email address.Be cautious of unexpected requests
Look out for emails requesting sensitive information, such as passwords, or asking for unusual actions like purchasing gift cards.Look for generic greetings
Spoofed emails often use greetings like “Dear Colleague” or “Hello user” rather than addressing you by name.Hover over links
Before clicking any links, hover over them to ensure the URL matches the legitimate sender’s site.Verify the email with the sender
If something seems suspicious, contact the sender through a different method, such as a phone call or a new email thread, to confirm the legitimacy of the message.
How to Report Phishing Emails
On a PC (Outlook Desktop)
Right-click the suspected email
Select Report > Report Phishing from the dropdown.
Follow any additional prompts to complete the report.
On a Mac (Outlook Desktop)
Control + click on the suspected email to open the context menu.
Select Report > Report Phishing from the dropdown.
Confirm when prompted.
On Outlook Web (Mac/PC)
Right-click the suspected email
Select Report > Report Phishing.
Why Reporting Phishing Matters
By reporting phishing emails, you help protect not only your data but also the security of the entire institution. Your vigilance ensures that malicious attempts can be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
Need Help?
If you have any questions or need further assistance with identifying or reporting suspicious emails, please feel free to reach out to IT support:
Scott Gallagher | he/him
IT Manager, College of the Environment
gallag@wwu.edu | M-F, 8-5
Documentation
