Phishing emails can slip into anyone’s inbox, no matter how secure your systems may be.
The key isn’t just recognising them—it’s knowing what to do next.
Reporting phishing emails is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, your organisation, and others from falling victim.
When you take action, you’re not just stopping the scam in its tracks—you’re contributing to a safer digital environment.
Let’s Set the Scene:
Imagine this:
You receive an email that seems suspicious.
It claims to be from your IT team, asking you to reset your work password due to “security updates.”
The tone is urgent, and there’s a link to click—but something feels off.
Instead of ignoring it or panicking, you know exactly what to do.
You report it, your IT team blocks the sender, and your organisation avoids a potential breach.
This is how reporting phishing emails works as a vital defence mechanism.
The Possible Impact:
Here’s why reporting phishing emails is critical:
- If phishing attempts go unreported, they remain an active threat.
One overlooked email could lead to:
- Compromised accounts, giving attackers access to sensitive systems and data.
- Data breaches, exposing confidential business or client information.
- Financial losses, whether through fraud or ransomware demands.
- Escalation of attacks, as scammers use the same tactics to target others in the organisation.
Failing to act not only puts you at risk but also jeopardises your colleagues, clients, and the organisation as a whole.
Let’s Make This Super Simple:
Here are five steps to effectively report phishing emails:
- Don’t Interact with the Email
- Avoid clicking any links, downloading attachments, or replying to the sender.
- Think of this like handling a ticking time bomb—don’t touch anything you don’t trust.
- Use Your Organisation’s Reporting Tools
- Most organisations have a process for reporting phishing emails.
- This might be a specific button in your email client or a security team email address.
- Forward the Email as an Attachment
- If no specific reporting tool is available, forward the email to your IT team as an attachment.
- This preserves the original formatting and headers, which help investigators track the source.
- Report to External Authorities
- If the phishing attempt isn’t work-related, report it to relevant authorities such as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in the UK by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk.
- Delete the Email After Reporting
- Once reported, move the email to your trash folder and permanently delete it.
- It’s like taking out the rubbish—you don’t want it lingering around.
Why This Will Make You and Your Business Hard to Hack:
By reporting phishing emails, you’re doing more than protecting yourself.
You’re strengthening your organisation’s defences, preventing future attacks, and contributing to a broader effort to combat cybercrime.
Each report helps refine detection tools, making it harder for scammers to succeed.
In a world where cybercriminals constantly adapt, taking these small steps builds a culture of vigilance and resilience.
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