LinkedIn, as of 2024, has over 1 billion members worldwide, making it one of the largest professional networking platforms globally. With such a vast user base, LinkedIn has become an attractive target for scammers seeking to exploit its users for personal or financial gain. These scams capitalise on the platform’s extensive reach and the trust users place in its professional networking environment.
Common LinkedIn Scams of 2024
LinkedIn Phishing Scams
LinkedIn phishing scams deceive users through fake messages, connection requests, or job offers to steal personal information, login credentials, or distribute malware. These scams target LinkedIn’s professional user base, exploiting the platform’s trust and users’ expectations of legitimate communication. They can occur anytime but often spike during periods of economic uncertainty or following major LinkedIn announcements.
LinkedIn Email Phishing Subject Lines
- You Appeared in 4 searches this week
- Account suspended
- You have 1 new messages
- LinkedIn profile security alert
- Your account will be terminated
LinkedIn Catfishing and Romance Scams
These catfishing and romance scams involve people creating fake profiles on the LinkedIn platform to trick and manipulate others emotionally or financially. In catfishing scams, individuals make up fake identities, often using stolen photos, and create fake connections with unsuspecting users, sometimes for personal gain or to carry out other scams.
Moreover, romance scams on LinkedIn follow a similar pattern but involve the person forming a romantic relationship with the victim, usually through messages and online chats, before taking advantage of their trust to ask for money or personal information. These scams target the platform’s professional atmosphere and users’ trust, using LinkedIn’s networking features to start conversations and appear trustworthy.
How does the scam work:
- Fake Profiles: Scammers create fake profiles with stolen photos and info.
- Connection Requests: They send requests to LinkedIn users, often targeting those open to networking.
- Building Trust: Scammers chat and build rapport, showing interest in the target’s professional life.
- Introducing Romance: They transition to expressing romantic interest and affection.
- Soliciting Money/Info: Once trust is gained, they ask for money, personal information, or favours.
LinkedIn Crypto Investment Scams
Be careful, as LinkedIn crypto investment scams involve scammers creating fake profiles impersonating cryptocurrency experts or companies to pitch fraudulent investment opportunities promising high returns.
Furthermore, these scams exploit the trust users have in the professional environment of LinkedIn, with scammers reaching out via private messages or comments on posts to lure victims into investing in fake or non-existent cryptocurrency projects. They often target users during bull markets in the cryptocurrency industry when interest and investment in crypto are high.
How to avoid it:
- Research Thoroughly: Investigate any investment opportunity and the person or company offering it.
- Be Wary of Unsolicited Offers: Approach with caution any unsolicited messages or connection requests promoting investments.
- Watch for Red Flags: Avoid opportunities promising high returns with little risk or requests to invest through unfamiliar platforms.
- Verify Credentials: Ensure the individual or company promoting the investment is properly licensed and regulated.
- Trust Your Instincts: If something seems too good to be true or you feel pressured to invest, trust your instincts and proceed with caution or seek professional advice.
LinkedIn Job Offer Scams
LinkedIn job offer scams involve fake job postings or messages aimed at scamming users into providing personal information, financial details, or even upfront payments under the guise of employment opportunities. Scammers typically create fake job listings using the names of known companies or offer enticing work-from-home opportunities to lure victims.
Additionally, They may then request sensitive information like Social Security numbers, bank account details, or payment for training materials or equipment. These scams often targeting job seekers who are actively searching for employment opportunities on the platform
How to know if its a job offer scam:
- Research the Company: Conduct thorough research on the company offering the job. Check their website, reviews, and online presence to ensure they are legitimate.
- Beware of Unrealistic Offers: Be cautious of job offers that promise high salaries or benefits that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use enticing offers to lure victims.
- Check for Red Flags: Look out for warning signs such as vague job descriptions, misspellings, grammatical errors, or requests for personal information upfront.
- Verify Contact Information: Ensure that the contact information provided matches the company’s official channels. Beware of job offers that use generic email addresses or phone numbers.
- Never Pay for a Job: Legitimate employers do not ask for payment from job seekers. Avoid any job offer that requires you to pay for training, materials, or other expenses.
LinkedIn Tech Support Scams
LinkedIn tech support scams involve scammers pretending to be LinkedIn support staff. They contact users, usually through emails or LinkedIn messages, claiming there’s a problem with the user’s account. They might ask for personal info, like login details, or demand payment for fake services. These scams prey on users’ trust in LinkedIn’s support system.
Legitimate tech support vs LinkedIn tech support scammer
Legitimate Tech Support:
- Typically initiates contact through official channels, such as LinkedIn’s Help Centre or customer support email.
- Provides personalised assistance and troubleshooting guidance tailored to your specific issue.
- Does not request sensitive information upfront, such as passwords or financial details.
- Offers verifiable credentials and may provide a ticket or reference number for tracking purposes.
- Respects your privacy and does not pressure you into making immediate decisions.
Fake Tech Support:
- Often initiates contact unexpectedly through unsolicited messages or emails claiming to be from LinkedIn support.
- Uses generic or suspicious email addresses or profiles that may not be affiliated with LinkedIn.
- Tries to create a sense of urgency or fear by claiming your account is at risk and requires immediate action.
- Requests sensitive information upfront, such as passwords or financial details, which legitimate tech support would never ask for.
- May contain spelling or grammatical errors, inconsistent formatting, or other signs of unprofessionalism.
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What to Do if You Got Scammed on LinkedIn?
If you’ve been scammed on LinkedIn, immediately report the scammer’s profile to LinkedIn by clicking the “More” button and selecting “Report/Block.” Change your LinkedIn password and any other compromised passwords, and consider using strong, unique passwords with a password manager. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your LinkedIn account for added security.
Additionaly, contact your bank if you provided financial information or made payments to stop further transactions and discuss recovery options. Lastly, monitor your bank accounts and credit card statements closely for unusual activity, set up alerts for suspicious transactions, and report any unauthorised activity immediately.
How Do I Report Someone on LinkedIn?
So, If you encounter a scammer on LinkedIn, it’s crucial to report the profile to help protect yourself and others. This involves visiting the scammer’s profile, accessing the report/block option, selecting the appropriate reason for the report, and providing detailed information about the scam. Taking these steps can aid LinkedIn in investigating and taking action against fraudulent accounts.
5 Steps to Report Someone on LinkedIn for Scams:
- Visit the Scammer’s Profile:
- Navigate to the profile of the person you want to report.
- Access the Report/Block Option:
- Click the “More” button located below the person’s profile picture.
- Select Report/Block:
- From the dropdown menu, select “Report/Block.”
- Choose the Appropriate Reason:
- Select “Report content on profile” or a similar option that matches your reason for reporting.
- Indicate that you are reporting a scam.
- Provide Details:
- Provide any additional details or context about the scam to help LinkedIn understand and investigate the issue.
Summary
These scams include phishing through fake messages and job offers, catfishing and romance schemes with fake profiles, fraudulent cryptocurrency investment pitches, fake job offers requesting personal information or payments, and tech support scams impersonating LinkedIn staff. Scammers use realistic connection requests and surveys to exploit users, gathering personal information or distributing malware. To stay safe, users should do thorough research, verify credentials, be cautious of unexpected offers, and promptly report suspicious activity.
Contact Us
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Question For the Audience
Have you or anyone you know been a victim of a LinkedIn scam? If so, what happened
