Phishing and SPAM (FAQ)
Please report every suspicious email using the procedure below. Don't forward it to the helpdesk.
Note: more extensive IT security incidents (e.g. your identity or the identity of a colleague is used for targeted phishing emails) must be reported according to the procedure described in How do I report an IT security incident?
Below can find the instructions depending on your email client:
- https://outlook.office.com/mail/
- Outlook on your computer (Windows/Mac)
- Outlook app on your mobile device (Android/iOS smartphone, tablet, ...)
Report suspicious email in Outlook on the web
Follow these steps if you're using Outlook in your web browser (e.g., Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, etc.).
- For PHISH ONLY, you can simply click the Report button in the menu bar
- To choose Junk or Phish, you need to click on the dropdown button
- Click on Report phishing or Report Junk
Report suspicious emails in Outlook for Windows and Mac
Follow these steps if you're using the desktop application on a Windows or Mac computer.
- Click on an email to view the message
- On Windows, click on the Report Message button located under Home in the top menu (if not shown; click the three elipses)
On Mac, click on the More Options ellipses (3 dots) - Click on Junk or Phishing in the popup menu that appears
Report suspicious emails using Outlook for iOS and Android
The following describes the method for Android devices. The method used for iOS devices should be similar.
- Tap on an email to view the message or Tap and hold to select it
- Tap on More actions ellipses (3 dots) on the top-right corner of the message
- Tap the Report junk or Tap on Junk or Phishing
Report spam
You can also forward spam messages to spam@ugent.be.
Phishing is...
a form of Internet fraud. It consists of scamming people by e.g. luring them to a fake website, which is a copy of the real website and getting them to log in there - unsuspectingly - with their login name and password (or their credit card data). As a result, the fraudster obtains this data with all its consequences.
Phishing messages are regularly sent to UGent e-mail addresses. The intention is simple: to request your login name and password in order to abuse your account, e.g. by using your account to send spam or to gain unauthorized access to UGent applications such as Oasis, Minerva, Athena or SAP.
If account information (login name, password, codes, ...) is requested via e-mail (including via reference to a website) it is always phishing.
What should I do?
- Report every suspicious email (phishing, spam, ...)
- Contact the ICT helpdesk if you doubt the authenticity of an e-mail.
What is UGent doing against phishing?
- UGent provides extensive filtering of the e-mail traffic
- UGent is raising awareness and training with simulated phishing emails
- UGent is doing every effort to keep the many cyber threats under control is made, but information security is a responsibility of all UGent staff and students.
- ...
What is spam?
A collective term for junk e-mail (and unwanted advertising messages on websites).
Characteristics of spam messages:
- the messages are sent in large quantities, to thousands of people simultaneously.
- the messages have a commercial purpose. The messages usually refer to a product or website.
- the messages are sent or posted without permission or knowledge of the site, or the recipient.
- the messages may seem to be sent by yourself.
What should I do?
What is UGent doing against spam?
- UGent is taking measures to combat spam.
- UGent is doing every effort to keep the many cyber threats under control is made, but information security is a responsibility of all UGent staff and students.
- ...