Suspicious Login Issues

How to Protect Against Phishing and Scam Emails in Microsoft Mail

Khadija Khan Oct 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to protect their Microsoft Mail account from phishing attempts and scam emails.

How to Protect Against Phishing and Scam Emails in Microsoft Mail

Product: Microsoft Mail
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Securing an email inbox against unauthorized access attempts, deceptive links, and scam messages.
Observed behavior: The user is seeking to configure junk mail filtering, establish mail rules, and learn safe handling procedures for suspicious messages.

Before you start

Never click on unrecognized links or download unexpected attachments. Ensure your Microsoft account recovery options are up to date before making security changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Junk Email Filters and Mail Rules

Set up built-in junk filters and custom rules to automatically detect and move suspicious emails out of your inbox.

Microsoft Mail offers powerful built-in tools to filter out unwanted or malicious emails. By adjusting the strictness of the junk email filter and creating specific rules, you can significantly reduce the risk of phishing attacks.

Open Mail Settings

Log in to your Microsoft Mail account and click the 'Settings' gear icon located in the top-right corner of the interface.

Access Junk Email Configuration

Select 'View all Outlook settings' at the bottom of the pane, then navigate to 'Mail' > 'Junk email'.

Block Senders and Domains

In the 'Blocked senders and domains' section, enter the email addresses or domain names of known suspicious senders and press 'Add'.

Create Custom Mail Rules

Go to 'Mail' > 'Rules' to create customized filters that automatically delete or move incoming messages containing typical scam keywords to the Junk folder.

Configure Junk Email Filters and Mail Rules

Filter Strictness: You can configure your settings to only trust email from addresses in your Safe senders list for maximum security against unsolicited emails.

Solution 2

Report Phishing Messages and Secure Your Account

Use Microsoft's built-in reporting options to flag dangerous emails and safely handle potential security threats.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I identify a phishing email in my inbox?

Look for misspelled sender addresses, generic greetings (like 'Dear Customer'), urgent demands for personal information, and suspicious links that do not match the official company domain when you hover over them.

What should I do if I accidentally clicked a link in a scam email?

Immediately disconnect your device from the internet, run a full system antivirus scan, and change your passwords—especially for your email and banking accounts—using a different, secure device.

Does reporting an email as phishing actually do anything?

Yes. Reporting an email as phishing sends the data directly to Microsoft. This helps improve their global spam filters, protecting both you and other users from receiving similar malicious emails in the future.

Can I block all emails from senders not in my contact list?

Yes, in Microsoft Mail settings under 'Junk email', you can scroll down to the 'Filters' section and check the box that says 'Only trust email from addresses in my Safe senders and domains list and Safe mailing lists'.

Microsoft Office Security Issues