What Actually Happens When You Click “Report a Phish” in Outlook

Most employees don’t realize how powerful that little Outlook icon really is. Clicking Report a Phish isn’t just a polite heads-up to IT—it triggers a fast, behind-the-scenes workflow that protects the entire organization in real time. Understanding what happens next helps employees see why reporting suspicious email is one of the most important security habits they can build.

The Message Is Instantly Isolated

The moment you click the button, Outlook copies the suspicious email—headers, attachments, formatting, everything—and sends it to your security system. This creates a clean, untouched version of the message for analysis.
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Why this matters: Attackers rely on speed. Early reporting gives defenders the advantage.

Automated Analysis Begins Immediately

The reported email is run through a layered evaluation process:
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  • Sender verification – Checks if the domain, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, or sending server looks legitimate.
  • Link and attachment inspection – URLs are detonated in a sandbox to detect redirects, credential pages, or malware.
  • Content evaluation – The text is compared to known phishing patterns like fake invoices, password resets, or social engineering triggers.

These automated checks happen in seconds.

You Receive a Clear, Easy-to-Read Analysis Report

Right after you report the email, Phish Coach sends a detailed verdict directly to your inbox. The report shows:
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  • Phishing score
  • Spam score
  • DMARC/SPF/DKIM status
  • Sender trust score
  • Attachment and link safety

Each section uses simple green/yellow/red indicators so anyone can understand the results at a glance.

Why this matters: Users get immediate clarity and learn to recognize risk patterns over time.aa

The Report Explains Exactly What the Email Means for You

Every analysis includes a short summary written in plain language:
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  • Whether the email appears legitimate or unsafe
  • What stood out in the technical scan
  • Whether the sender passed authentication checks
  • Whether attachments or links show any red flags

No jargon—just a straightforward explanation of what the system found.

‍Why this matters: Quick understanding reduces hesitation and builds user confidence.

You Get Practical Guidance on What to Do Next

At the bottom of each report, Phish Coach provides clear actions:
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  • Safe to open if the message shows no risk
  • Exercise caution if anything looks suspicious
  • Permanently Delete it if it appears malicious or untrustworthy
  • Recover it from Deleted Items if you removed it accidentally

Why this matters: People don’t have to guess. They get a simple decision path they can follow immediately.

Every Report Helps You Improve Your Phishing Awareness

Each time you report an email—even a safe one—you sharpen your instincts. Over time you learn:
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  • How legitimate senders format messages
  • What suspicious patterns tend to look like
  • How authentication checks protect you
  • Why small red flags add up

Phish Coach turns real emails into continuous micro-training without interrupting your workflow.

‍Why this matters: The system strengthens your awareness automatically, one report at a time.