Reporting Spam/Junk Email

TFCA's junk/spam/malware/phishing filtering is done by Microsoft 365. In order for it to work well, you are responsible for reporting bad or suspicious email and also good email. The primary way to do this is through the Report Message icon in Outlook's ribbon menu. Not using the Report Message Icon will eventually lead to an inbox jammed with junk email and a constant hunt to find okay emails.

The Report Message Icon

Your ribbon (the wide bar at the top of your Outlook window) has a button labeled, Report Message. It looks like this:

When you click on the Report Message icon, you'll see several different options. 

Junk

The Junk category is for email that is from a legitimate company or person but it is unsolicited.  When you select Junk, Microsoft will send it to your Junk Email folder and will record that that email address is Junk for you (but not for other users). 

Phishing

Phishing is the practice of luring you into disclosing personal information, such as bank account numbers and passwords. Often phishing messages look legitimate but have deceptive links that actually open fake websites. If you select Phishing, a copy of that email will be sent to Microsoft to help update their spam filters, and the email will be moved from your Inbox to your Junk Email folder.

Not Junk

If you know the sender and you're expecting the message, it's important to let Microsoft know that it is a legitimate email through the Report Message Icon. Over time, Microsoft will use this information to better determine what is legitimate and what is not. You should also use the Not Junk option if a legitimate email ends up in your Junk Email folder. This will move the message from the Junk Email folder back to your Inbox.

NOTE: for Mac users, if you don't see the Report Message Icon, you will have to get the add-in to use in Outlook. 

1.    Go to https://appsource.microsoft.com/product/office/wa104381180.
2.    Click GET IT NOW.
3.    In the dialog that appears, review the terms of use and privacy policy, and then click Continue.
4.    Sign in using your work or school account (for business use)