Deal with spam and junk email

Set up filters to delete detected spam. Learn tips on avoiding junk email.

One of the best ways to deal with unwanted email is to delete it or set up filters to delete detected spam.

Messages that are detected as spam on UCL’s email system, are flagged by inserting the text {SPAM?} in the subject line which means these messages can be filtered to the trash folder.

Select the program you use for guidance on how to filter spam:

How-to guides for supported email programs

Tips to avoid spam

Never respond to a spam email…

Doing so will let the spammer know that your account is active and makes your email address more valuable. You are likely to receive more spam as a result.

Sometimes spammers try to gain a response by promising to remove your name from their list if you ‘reply to this email’. Unless you trust the source, never follow these instructions. It is often a trick to get you to react and lets them know that your account is active.

Never click on a web link inside a spam message…

Even if the message says that’s the way to unsubscribe. This is another way of alerting the spammer that your account is live, and can result in an increase of spam.

Never purchase products advertised by spammers…

Spammers will continue as long as it is profitable for them to do so.

Never send personal information...

Such as credit/debit card details, passwords and so on in an email. Spammers can fake the identity of trusted sites. This is known as phishing.