March 26, 2026
Your Performance Self-Evaluation Is Available for Your Review
Posted in: Phishing

Why This Looks Real
This phishing email is especially convincing because it mimics real HR processes:
- Relevant timing
Mentions of evaluation deadlines (like March 26th) align with real performance review cycles. - Familiar system references
The message references evaluation steps that resemble workflows in Workday. - Personalization
Includes your name to make the email feel legitimate. - Professional tone
Uses structured language like 鈥淪ubmitted to Reviewer鈥 and 鈥淪ubmitted for Approval.鈥 - HR-style formatting
Appears to come from an 鈥淗R Admin鈥 with an official-looking notification format.
Why This Is Fake
Despite looking legitimate, there are clear warning signs:
- External sender
The email comes from outside the university, even though HR communications should come from internal systems. - Generic sender name
鈥淗R Admin鈥 is vague and not tied to a real university contact. - Malicious link behavior
The 鈥淰iew Review鈥 link leads to:- A fake CAPTCHA page
- Followed by a spoofed login page designed to steal your credentials
- Unexpected request
Legitimate performance reviews are accessed directly through Workday鈥攏ot through email links. - No direct link to official system
The URL does not match your institution鈥檚 Workday domain.
What You Should Do
If you receive this message:
- Do NOT click the link
- Do NOT enter your login credentials
- Report it immediately using the Phish Alert Button (PAB)
If you already clicked or entered your information:
- Change your password immediately
- Report it via the PAB
- Monitor your account for unusual activity
Additional Notes:
- Remember:聽Information Technology will never text you. We will also never request your password or Duo codes,聽ever.
- Information Technology will聽not聽ask you to verify accounts or submit passwords through unofficial forms or unexpected email links.
- Do you think you鈥檝e fallen for a scam? Did you share personal information? Downloaded malicious content? Please contact the IT Service Desk at聽973-655-7971聽option 1 or email聽itservicedesk@montclair.edu.
- Use the聽Knowbe4 Phish Alert Button (PAB)聽to report malicious emails directly to the Information Security team for review. If you are not using the Gmail client please forward the email to聽phishfiles@montclair.edu.
- Always use the 鈥渉over over鈥 technique to check web links before clicking! For more security tips please visit our聽Security Tips听辫补驳别.
