Obtaining Internet Headers

The preferred way to effectively report spam or other abusive email is to send the email as an attachement to spam@missouri.edu for spam or abuse@missouri.edu for abusive/harassing email.

An alternate way is to include the Internet headers that come with the original message. See below for instructions on obtaining Internet headers using various popular email clients.

Obtaining Internet Headers Using Outlook 2010

1. Double click on the email message so that it is open in its own window.
2. Click on the File tab.
3. Click on the Properties button which will open in its own window.
4. Copy the text from the Internet headers window.

Obtaining Internet Headers Using Outlook 2007

1. Double click on the email message so that it is open in its own window.
2. Locate the Options block, which is the fourth block over in the Message tab at the top.
3. To the right of Options, there is a little button with an arrow in it. Click on it and you will see a screen with the Internet headers in the bottom section.
4. Select this information and copy/paste it as needed.

Obtaining Internet Headers Using Outlook 2003 Email

1. Open the message.
2. Go to View.
3. Select Options.
4. Copy the text of Internet Headers into an email and forward it, along with the email in question, to the Division of IT. Spam should be sent to spam@missouri.edu. Other abusive or harassing email should be sent to abuse@missouri.edu.

Obtaining Internet Headers Using Outlook for Mac 2011

1. Select the message from your inbox.
2. Right-click (Control-click)it.
3. Click on View Source.
4. Cut and paste the text into a new email message.

Obtaining Internet Headers Using Windows Live

Note: Spam email should be moved to the spam folder for reporting to Windows Live.

For phishing or other emails that you feel should be escalated to the Division of IT, please do the following:

1. Open the Outlook Live client with Internet Explorer.
2. Open the problem message in teh inbox.
3. In the message toolbar, select the Message Details Icon.
4. Copy the mail headers information.
5. Paste the header information in an email.

Obtaining Internet Headers Using Outlook Web Access

1. Open the full Outlook Web Access client with Internet Explorer.
2. Open the problem message in the inbox.
3. In the message toolbar, select the Message Details Icon.
4. Copy the mail headers information.
5. Paste the header information in an email.

Obtaining Internet Headers Using Outlook Express

1. Select and open the message to view.
2. Under the File menu, select Properties.
3. Select the Details tab.
4. Select all text under the details tab in the Internet headers for this message area by clicking in the area and pressing Ctrl+A. This action should highlight the text.
5. Copy the selected text by pressing Ctrl+C.
6. Close the Properties window by pressing OK.
7. Prepare to forward the original note (Press Ctrl+F or click on the Forward button, or choose from the Message menu item Forward). Do not send the message yet.
8. The body of the note will appear in the compose window.
9. Click before the "-----Original Message---".
10. Then paste in the headers you copied, by pressing Ctrl+V.
11. At the top of the note, provide information identifying yourself, how to contact you, and other comments or questions.
12. Fill in the "To:" field with the email address to which the report is to be sent. Spam goes to spam@missouri.edu. Abusive email goes to abuse@missouri.edu.
13. Press Send.

You can also view the Internet headers directly from your inbox without opening the message. Just right click on the message in your inbox and choose Message Options. You will be looking at the headers at this point.

Webmail

Webmail cannot expose "header" lines needed to trace an email message. The data exists in the note but Webmail just can't show it. You can use Microsoft Outlook or other tools to see all of the hidden header lines.