Should You Forward Phishing Emails to IT?
Short answer
Yes, you should forward phishing emails to your IT department to help protect your organization from threats. Before doing so, gather necessary information and follow clear steps to ensure your IT team can analyze and respond effectively. This prevents potential harm and contributes to overall digital safety.
What do you need before forwarding a phishing email to IT?
Before forwarding a phishing email to your IT department, prepare a few things to make the process safe and productive. First, ensure you have access to the original email, including all headers and attachments. Email headers contain metadata like sender information and routing paths, which are critical for IT to trace the source. Second, verify your organization’s specific phishing reporting procedures—some may use dedicated email addresses or ticketing systems. Third, avoid clicking any links or downloading attachments in the suspicious email, as this can expose your device to malware. Lastly, have basic details ready about what you noticed that made you suspect phishing, such as unusual sender addresses, urgent language, or unexpected requests for personal data.
What are the step-by-step instructions for forwarding a phishing email to IT?
- Do not click on any links or open attachments — This prevents accidental infection or data compromise.
- Keep the email intact including headers — Forward the entire original message without altering it so IT can analyze full details.
- Use the designated reporting method — Forward the email to your IT department’s specified address or upload it to their ticket system.
- Add a brief note explaining why you think it’s phishing — For example, “This email asks for my password and looks suspicious.”
- Send the email promptly — Quick reporting helps IT respond faster to any threats.
- Delete the phishing email from your inbox after forwarding — This avoids accidental clicks later.
- Follow any additional instructions from your IT team — They may ask for more information or suggest next steps.
These steps ensure that the IT department receives all necessary information without putting you or your network at risk.
How can you tell if forwarding the phishing email worked?
You can tell forwarding the phishing email to IT worked if you receive a confirmation or response from your IT team acknowledging your report. Many organizations have automated replies or ticket systems that confirm receipt. You might also get advice on whether the phishing attempt is confirmed and if any further action is needed from you. Additionally, if IT blocks the malicious sender or enhances security measures, you might notice warnings or alerts on your device or email system. Successful reporting also means you feel confident that you have contributed to protecting your workplace or community from phishing threats.
What should you do if forwarding the phishing email goes wrong?
If forwarding the phishing email doesn’t go as planned—such as your IT team not responding or the email getting lost—take these steps: First, double-check that you used the correct forwarding address or platform. If unsure, ask a trusted IT contact or supervisor. Second, try forwarding the email again, ensuring you include all original content. Third, if you accidentally clicked a link or opened an attachment, immediately disconnect from the internet and inform IT to contain any damage. Fourth, if your workplace does not have an IT department, report the phishing attempt to a trusted external source like the FTC or FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Finally, maintain caution by deleting the phishing email from your inbox and continuing to monitor your accounts for unusual activity.
How can you adapt forwarding phishing emails if you are not in a company setting?
If you are an individual or part of a small group without a dedicated IT department, you can still take useful actions when you receive phishing emails. Instead of forwarding to IT, report the phishing attempt to trusted external agencies such as the FTC’s ReportFraud website or the FBI’s IC3 portal. Use the email service’s built-in reporting tools—most major providers have “Report phishing” options that help block and track phishing sources. Educate family members or friends about phishing signs and encourage them to report suspicious emails. Keep your devices updated with security patches and use strong, unique passwords to reduce vulnerability. This approach helps maintain personal digital safety and assists broader efforts to combat phishing.
Why is forwarding phishing emails to IT important?
Forwarding phishing emails to IT matters because it helps the entire organization defend against cyber threats. IT teams can analyze the phishing email to identify attack patterns, block dangerous senders, and update security measures such as spam filters or firewalls. When employees report suspicious emails promptly, it enables faster detection of phishing campaigns and minimizes the chance of breaches. It also supports training efforts by helping IT create real-world examples for phishing awareness programs. Reporting phishing is a key step in preventing data theft, financial loss, and damage to reputation. It turns every employee into part of a security defense network.
What should you avoid when forwarding phishing emails?
When forwarding phishing emails, avoid actions that could worsen the situation. Do not click any links or open attachments within the suspicious message, as this can activate malware. Avoid forwarding the email to colleagues unless instructed by IT; sharing phishing emails widely can increase risk. Do not alter the email content or headers before forwarding, since this information is crucial for investigation. Never respond to the phishing email or provide personal information. Finally, avoid delaying the report—timely forwarding is essential to effective defense.
Frequently asked questions
Should I delete phishing emails instead of forwarding them to IT?
Deleting phishing emails removes potential risks from your inbox but doesn’t alert IT to threats targeting your network. Forwarding allows IT to investigate and block malicious sources. If your organization encourages forwarding, follow that advice; otherwise, delete suspicious emails after reporting them through your email provider’s tools.
Can forwarding a phishing email to IT infect my computer?
Simply forwarding a phishing email without clicking links or opening attachments is safe. The risk comes from interacting with malicious content inside the email, so avoid clicking anything and only forward the entire original message as-is.
What if my company doesn’t have an IT department?
If no IT team is available, use trusted external resources like the FTC’s ReportFraud site or the FBI IC3 portal to report phishing. Reporting through your email provider’s built-in phishing tools also helps improve security.
How do I find the email headers to forward to IT?
Email headers are accessible in your email client’s options, often labeled “View source” or “Show original.” Forward the email using the “Forward as attachment” option if available, or include headers in your forwarded message so IT has full details.
Should I forward all suspicious emails or only confirmed phishing attempts?
Forward any suspicious email you suspect is phishing, even if you’re not sure. IT relies on reported emails to analyze and confirm threats, so it’s better to report questionable messages rather than ignore them.