Managing junk email

Unwanted emails are a nuisance and in some cases, can also be harmful (such as phishing emails). We have measures in place to block unsolicited email, but sometimes they will still get through.

Is it a phishing email?

If the unexpected email contains an attachment or asks you to click a link to a site that doesn't look genuine, this is likley a phishing email. See our email phishing page for information on how to spot these and report them.

Is it a 'predatory' journal?

Academic colleagues may receive emails from new journal publishers, inviting them to submit papers or participate in events. Some of these new publishers lack any discernible scholarship, academic rigour or credibility and wish to boost their own reputation through endorsement by the academic community. Our Library's Scholarly Communication Service has more information on this and the 'Think.Check.Submit' service helps you to identify trusted journals:

Other junk email

It's quick and easy report junk email. It also helps our IT systems recognise new types of junk email, so they can be blocked automatically in the future.

You can do this in one of two ways:

Report junk email using Microsoft Outlook

  1. Select the junk email message *
  2. Click “More” (next to the “Forward” button) and select “Forward as attachment”
  3. In the new message window that pops up, send the email to: junk.email@manchester.ac.uk

* If you receive a bounce back message stating that the email contains malware, please report using Outlook Web App.

Report junk email using Outlook Web App

  1. Right-click (or Ctrl+click on a Mac) on the junk email message *
  2. Click "Forward as attachment"
  3. In the new message window that pops up, send the email to: junk.email@manchester.ac.uk

You don't need to explain why you've sent the message. Everything we need to know will be in that attachment.

Never reply to suspected junk email, click any links or open any associated attachments (as these more than likely will contain viruses). Replying or clicking an 'unsubscribe' link could confirm to the sender that your email is in use and they will send you more. The only way to be completely safe is to delete any suspect messages.

* You can also submit multiple messages at once by holding down Ctrl and clicking all the messages you want to submit.