I love LinkedIn.
I think it's one of the best things that happened to me, finding out about it 4 years ago. It's kind of like the pillow that you buy for 4 years, but can't seem to get rid off, even though your brain is nagging at you to dump it in the trash since year 1 and get a new one.
I change my pillow often, by the way. *wink*
Although 4 years have passed, with me gaining over 9,800 followers/connections, I love the fact that I am constantly communicating, and connecting with new individuals every single day.
But that doesn't mean that I haven't met my fair share of the other side of this beautiful platform.
They're what I like to call the "dark side of LinkedIn."
And if you're an avid user of LinkedIn, you must know what I'm talking about.
I'm talking about scams. Yes, they do happen here. A lot of them, actually.
And in my personal mission to create the best content on Earth and lead the next wave of content creators, I felt that this post was necessary to help you understand some of the scams going around LinkedIn, and what you can do to avoid them.
In this article, you'll learn the most common scams on LinkedIn, how to spot a scam, and prevent yourself from sending dollars to a Nigerian Prince.
Let's begin!
Scam #1: Scam Targeting Marketing, HR, and Business industries
This scam is also known as a 419 scam, made famous by a collection of 419 techniques that this site lists out quite definitively.
Have you fallen victim to this?
The first example that we are going to cover is a message sent by a supposed CEO of a petrochemicals company in Kuwait.
It was first uncovered by antivirus software firm BitDefender, and is angled around sending emails and solicitations to LinkedIn users asking them to remit money over to secure their children's inheritance.
These scam artists are known to pitch (they need a better copywriter, in my opinion) a proposal to users, telling a story about them needing to find a partner to relocate and transfer some funds.
If anyone replies to this email, the scam artists will basically ask for money in exchange for the "investment" and "healthy partnership"; and of course, if you don't do your homework well enough, you just lost your moolah.
Actionable Steps: 1. Take a look at the email address that the sender attaches inhis/her message. Is the domain name (the letters after the @) the officalone of the company that the sender claims to represent?Often times, scammers use an email address that closely resembles theofficial address. Of course, now that you've read this guide, you'll know better.2. Does the sender even make sense by contacting a random stranger toask for information orfor money? Why, of all 7 billion people on Earth would he/she choose you?3.Is the address he/she sent valid? In the example shown above, the POBox ends with4 digits - that closely resembles the actual company's address, but is not the real one.
Scam #2: False (Paying) Job Offers
Scam number 2 sounds more legitimate than the first one, but is actually a scam.
This scam involves users receiving a LinkedIn message from someone claiming to be a job recruiter. (gasp)
They might attach a few details promising a high-paying, high flying career which can be easily done anywhere.
Of course, there are some figures thrown around in the email - in this case, 2,000 USD every month.
As an added bonus (this should be an immediate red flag, by the way), the email promises to be legitimate.
Of course, take part in the survey or job all you want, but chances are - there won't be any paycheck at the end of the rainbow.
Here's what Irene, a professional working from home had to say about this scam, when she unknowingly fell into the trap.
“The sales manager contacted me through my LinkedIn profile and the owner interviewed and hired me,” she told FlexJobs. “It was all outbound calling. I worked for them for three weeks and two days, and out of the blue got a phone call they decided to ‘go in a different direction’ and said they would send my paycheck. It never arrived.”
Actionable Steps: 1. Companies seldom hire just based on LinkedIn messages. If they do, then they need to get their head checked.2. Similarly, you shouldn't trust any company that requires onlyinterviews to be conducted message - unless you are a freelancer, or you already have an online business with order processes inbuilt.3. Be sure to read up as thoroughly as you can about the company's background, as well as the sender's background when you get an offer like this. If you see gibberish on their profile, chances are,the offer is gibberish, too.
SCAM #3: Weird Contact Requests
Ladies are more likely to be the target for this scam, though men will have their fair share as well.
This scam includes a invitation to connect, along with a invitation that looks like this:
Although the flattering message that you see may make you blush - remember that LinkedIn is a professional network - if anyone is flattering you, you jolly well run away to Tinder.
According to job recruiter Alison Doyle from About Careers, the invitation to connect with such messages usually is attached with a link inviting the user to either visit their LinkedIn inbox or to automatically accept the invitation.
Once you click on this link, you will be redirected to another page that downloads malicious software like the data phishing ZeuS malware to your computer.
Not good.
1. Remember that LinkedIn is a professional network, not a dating site.2. When someone comes up to you with a message to connect, it shouldalways fulfil the following criteria: - Does the sender have a profile that is complete and believable?- Does the sender mention why he/she wants to connect with you?- Do you have any mutual connections with the sender?
Scam #4: Romance is not in the air
Recently, there have been calls of the hashtag #RIPLinkedIn, and they arose because of users abusing LinkedIn to post pictures of their dogs, bodily functions, and also -- Romance messages.
Now, before you get all soft on the inside, this is a scam.
Alexandra Cain ofThe Sydney Morning Heraldrecallsreceiving a fake romantic missive in her LinkedIn inbox a few years ago. The message read as follows:
“I was surfing through when i came across your sweet profile, i must confess you sure do have a lovely and interesting page on here, have you been lucky to meet someone special on here? Have a blessed evening, hope to hear from you soon.”
Once you communicate with these kinds of messages, they essentially aim to get your email address, and store it for future spam advertising, or worse, sell your data off.
Actionable Steps: Next time you see such a message on LinkedIn with a from a charmingprince or beautiful lady, ask yourself this:
1. Is he/she beautiful? (Kidding, kidding)2. Does the message at least have your name in it?3. Does the sender look legitimate?4. Does the sender keep requesting for your personal information?
Scam #5: Phishing Scam
This scam comes across the board as one of the latest scams happening on LinkedIn right now.
The scam is masked as an update from LinkedIn, and basically goes like this:
Subject Line: Linkedin Update
Dear Linkedin User,
Due to the recent upgrade in linkedin you have to upgrade your account to keep using linkedin or your account will be terminated.
In order to login click the link below
http://trivialsalgad.....to login and wait for responds from linkedin.
We apologies for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Regards
The purpose of this email is to get you to click on the link that they have mentioned, and to enter your personal details into the site.
Scammers will then take this information, such as your:
- Birth date
- Social security number
- Financial information (credit card/bank account number)
and conduct identity theft or other fraudulent schemes.
Actionable Steps: 1. Is the email really from LinkedIn? What's the email domain?2. Is the email personalised? If they are truly from LinkedIn, theyshould at least have your first name right.3. Is the subject line clear? Does it have a ticket number?4. Does the email threaten you in anyway with fear or intimidation? For example, does it say that if you don't click on this link, your account will be banned or interrupted?5. Does the email have good grammar? (seriously though, scammerscould use better copywriters)
Scam #7: Dubious Job Openings
The next time you read a job opening position on LinkedIn, you might want to read the fine print:
Source
What's wrong with it, you ask? Still don't see it?
The sender already stated:
For no reason than to accumulate many comments and likes as I wasn't hugged enough as a child.
Seriously, guys. If you didn't see that, I guess that explains why over 3,000 people didn't see it either.
Actionable Steps: 1. The next time you read about a job opening, think about why is it not hosted on the official LinkedIn Jobs portal.2. Is there any further explanation about the job role? Or is it just a very generic description of the job that you will be "applying for"?3. Is there any procedure to take after reading the posting, that the sender has mentioned? Is it a professional procedure?
Scam #8: WhatsApp Lovers
Till today, I still do not understand why there is a need for a WhatsApp group to be created when you already have the biggest network of professionals on the planet, with 40% of them engaging daily on the platform.
Sadly, many still fall for this scam, with the promise of a job offer in exchange:
This scam led to over 2,400 contact numbers being traded openly. Bad idea.
These numbers can then be used for phishing scams, spam calls, and repackaged to be sold off to phone marketing companies that can make your life a miserable one with ads 24/7.
How many people cared enough to read the complete post as depicted in the above photo? Not a lot, apparently.
For your information, WhatsApp accepts only 100 members in a group at any given point in time, so the other 2,200 members are sending their numbers in vain, anyways.
Actionable Steps: 1. The next time you see a request for your contact details so thatthe Recruiter can place you in a WhatsApp group, find out why.Send him/her a personal message if you are uncertain.2. Be wary when anyone tries to obtain your phone number - this is thebest way to reach anyone - in order words, its a goldmine for scam artists. Don't fall for this.
Conclusion
Whew, at the end of the day, this question repeatedly pops up in my head, as I'm sure it will to you.
Will these scams every fade off?
Sadly, I don't think so. Unless LinkedIn goes on a rampage like Instagram and declares war on these mock accounts, it is an uphill battle.
Nevertheless, these are still some measures that you can do to protect yourself in general from becoming an unfortunate victim:
- Don't ever throw your resumes around the Internet. Yes, you might be desperate for work, but you don't want your phone bill to explode from random calls either. Send your resumes selectively, and be clear about who you are sending it to.
- When you are applying for work on LinkedIn, always make sure to work with official job boards like the LinkedIn Job Portal, or offical InMails from verified accounts.
- There's just some connection and link to scams and bad copywriting. So, the next time, thoroughly scan through the email, and find out if there are any blatant grammatical errors, or if the email is vaguely expressed.
Are there any other scams that you have fallen prey to? Share your story below, and share this article with anyone who you think might benefit from reading this!
I read every comment.
