Important Changes to the way the University Email System handles Junk Email (SPAM).

All incoming email gets scanned through a service called FuseMail that blocks the vast majority (over 90%) as spam or junk email. Currently, you never see the messages that are blocked, and you never get to find out they were ever sent to you.

The way this service works is changing. With the new version of FuseMail, you will start to receive notification emails at regular intervals (up to a few times a day) telling you what it has blocked since the last time it checked. You will only get a message if FuseMail has blocked some spam for your email address since it last checked.

The messages contain information like this:

You will have the option to preview messages or even request that a particular message is released and goes to your inbox. This is helpful because, even though the FuseMail service gets things right most of the time, occasionally it filters out valid messages because they have sufficient characteristics in common with junk email to get a high ‘spam score’.

The new service will be switched on from 01/09/2015 and the spam report messages will come from

They will be marked with the LJMU logo, like in the illustration below:

What to do if you get one of these messages.

Review the item(s) in the list.

If you think all of the messagesare just junk (e.g., advertising, scams, etc.) then just ignore it and delete the FuseMail message.

If you’re not sure and want to see the message(s) before making a decision, click the Preview link(s) in the Action column of the table.

Your message will appear like this…

Scroll through the entire message to reach the Release button at the bottom (NB: with very long newsletters, it’s sometimes quicker to close the preview and use the release link in your notification).

If you’re certain you want to release the message, click the Release button/link and

  • A small notice appears on screen confirming that your message has been released.
  • This notice will disappear quickly by itself so you may not always see it.
  • Very soon afterwards (typically within a few seconds) the message will arrive in your Inbox.

In the example above, the released message arrived instantly (while the on screen notice was visible). It may not always arrive quite that quickly.

Security Advice

You should always exercise caution when clicking links in emails, and extra caution is advisable when accessing messages you have released. IT Services strongly recommend that you review the advice on the LJMU website under:

‘IT Services>Help with IT>User Accounts and Security>Keeping your account secure’

Always be aware that your username and password are your responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

The messages are too frequent – can this be changed?

Yes – you can ask the IT Helpdeskto update your individual message frequency settings at any time. Call 5555 and ask to have your spam message frequency changed. You can also increase the frequency if you wish.

If you have been at LJMU for many years and previously had or email address, you could be receiving spam on that address as well as your current one. You can request that the old address(es) are removed. Please contact the IT Helpdesk for assistance.

The FuseMail service keeps blocking messages from an important sender – can this be stopped?

Contact the IT Helpdeskand explain who the sender is and what their email address is. They will investigate if the settings can be changed for that sender.