Body
FAQ
General
Spam & Phishing
General
How can I access my UFV email?
UFV supports the use of Outlook for accessing your UFV email.
On desktop: Using the Outlook application, or by going to https://outlook.office.com in a web browser.
On mobile: Using the Outlook application for Android or iPhone, or by going to https://outlook.office.com in a web browser.
Many other popular email clients offer the option to add an additional account, but please note that our support for these apps is best-effort only. If one of these apps does not work for you, the fix is to access your UFV email through one of the Outlook methods described above.
What is the Junk Items folder?
The Junk items folder holds suspected spam and phishing for your review. Where possible, we try not to block email and send it to the Junk Items folder instead. We recommend that you regularly review messages in the Junk Items folder to ensure you aren't missing anything. For more information, see the article: Manage Your Outlook Junk Items folder
What is the Focused Inbox?
Focused Inbox is an optional feature from Microsoft that separates your inbox into two folders - Focused and Other. The most important email is in the Focused tab, while the rest remain easily accessible in the Other tab. You can turn this feature on or off by following the directions from Microsoft for your version of Outlook: Focused Inbox for Outlook
An expected email is not in my inbox, what do I do?
You can first use the Outlook search bar with email addresses or keywords (make sure to search in 'Current Mailbox' or 'All Items', not just a particular folder!). You can also search your other folders, including Junk Items.
If you still can't locate the email, please contact the IT Service Desk and provide as much detail as you can (sender's email address, approximate date/time, or the subject line are all helpful things to include, if you have them).
Someone hasn't received an email that I've sent, what do I do?
If you received a bounce-back (NDR), the error message can give you more detail about what happened (for example, a misspelling of the email address). You can also forward the bounce-back to the IT Service Desk for troubleshooting.
If you sent the email to a UFV address (@ufv.ca or @student.ufv.ca), have the recipient check all their folders. If they still can't find the email, have them contact the IT Service Desk. If you sent the email external (to a non-UFV address), have the recipient check all of their email folders. If they still can't find the email, have them contact their email admin for further assistance.
If you still have questions, you can contact the IT Service Desk and we will do our best to assist.
Can I forward my UFV email to another email address?
We do not recommend that you forward your UFV email to another address. Where possible, you should always use your UFV email address. You can read more in our article: Email Forwarding
Spam & Phishing
How can I report phishing, spam, or other unwanted email?
If you receive a phishing email, or if you aren't sure about an email you received, you can forward it to phishreport@ufv.ca. This mailbox is monitored and a member of the Cybersecurity team will get back to you about your report.
How can I identify spam / phishing?
Spam is unsolicited, irrelevant, or inappropriate messages sent via email. Most often, spam comes from advertisements - look for an 'unsubscribe' or 'opt-out' link at the bottom of these emails to stop receiving them.
Phishing is a scam where you are tricked into revealing personal and sensitive information such as login credentials and banking details. Look for red flags like a strange sender email address, grammar and spelling errors, or threatening content.
For more tips on spotting spam and phishing, see our article: Spam and Phishing - Identify an Email
What is email spoofing?
When someone sends an email, the sender's address can be forged (spoofed) to disguise its true origins. There are many reasons an attacker might spoof an email, such as pretending to be someone you know (like your boss) or to evade spam filters. This is a common technique used in phishing and other scams.
You can read more about email spoofing in our article: Email Spoofing
What is the external email warning?
To assist students, staff, and faculty to more easily identify phishing emails, UFV Cybersecurity has implemented an External Email Security Warning on all UFV email accounts. When you receive an email from outside of UFV, you will see [EXTERNAL] in the subject line and a yellow caution footer. The warning tag is not an indicator that the email is phishing or fraudulent. It is only a reminder to verify the authenticity of the email before clicking on links, opening any attachments, or responding to the message. For more information, see our article: External Email Warning