{"id":28671,"date":"2025-09-25T14:47:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T22:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=28671"},"modified":"2025-09-25T14:47:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T22:47:37","slug":"linkedin-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/linkedin-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Fall for That Fake Job: 6 LinkedIn Scams to Watch Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you\u2019re a seasoned vet in your profession or fresh in the field and looking to land your first gig, LinkedIn has become an invaluable resource for anyone on the hunt for a new job. Unfortunately, scammers have also made LinkedIn their place of \u201cwork,\u201d conducting a variety of scams targeting hopeful job-hunters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you\u2019ve been job hunting and applying, here\u2019s what you need to know to keep from falling for a phony listing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is LinkedIn Legit? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we get into sniffing out scams, it\u2019s worth talking about what LinkedIn is and confirming that, yes, LinkedIn is overall very legitimate. If, for whatever reason, you aren\u2019t familiar with LinkedIn, it\u2019s an online networking platform meant to help build professional relationships and connect job seekers with businesses for opportunities that match their skill sets. Think of it like Facebook, but for businesses and professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As to whether LinkedIn is legit? The answer is absolutely. That said, not everyone on LinkedIn is legit, and that\u2019s why it\u2019s important to know how to spot the scammers trying to camouflage themselves as hiring managers and recruiters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LinkedIn Scams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because of LinkedIn\u2019s popularity in the professional world, LinkedIn job scams come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, ranging from lazy and obvious to carefully crafted and highly devious. Let\u2019s look at the six most common scams on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Fake Recruiters Hiring For Your Position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you currently have a job and a LinkedIn account with your title or position, you\u2019ve almost certainly received a message from a recruiter\/company claiming to have a role they think you\u2019d be a perfect fit for. We\u2019re all for manifesting your dream job, but when you\u2019re approached out of nowhere with an offer that seems too good to pass up, don\u2019t let your excitement lead to your guard being put down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it works:<\/strong> You\u2019ll get a message on LinkedIn about an exciting job opportunity that matches your current position. The attention grabber is that the job (that doesn\u2019t exist) pays way more than your current job, offers a signing bonus, and is fully remote. Jackpot! \u2026 for the scammer (if you fall for it). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once they have you on the hook, they\u2019ll have you fill out some standard employment forms, which can often include private information like your social security number and other financial information that can be used to steal your identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Fake Job Listings <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For those fighting the battle of searching for a job, the same principle applies as the fake recruiter scam: if it\u2019s too good to be true, it\u2019s probably a scam. This type of scam is a bit wider-reaching than the recruiter version, since it functions by having people reach out to the scammers about a listing, rather than the other way around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it works:<\/strong> Scammers create listings for jobs that offer good pay, benefits, and the ease of working remotely. Oftentimes, these listings will be for jobs that claim to need no prior experience<\/a> or credentials, maximizing the number of people who are tempted to apply.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once an application is submitted, victims are given employment forms that are actually just a ruse to steal private information. Sometimes, scammers are even brazen enough to ask you to pay a \u201cstandard\u201d onboarding fee that they claim you\u2019ll get back upon completing training. Once they have your information and payment, they\u2019ll disappear without a trace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Equipment Scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Related to fake job scams, equipment scams are often the final act in completing a scam on LinkedIn. Rather than trying to steal your information with employment forms, these scammers will make you think you\u2019re all set up to start working, but will ask you to order a specific piece of equipment that you\u2019ll need to begin your role. This can vary from things like MacBooks, monitors, or other expensive items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it works:<\/strong> Once you\u2019ve been \u201chired,\u201d a manager will instruct you to order equipment like a MacBook, and the company will reimburse you via check. They will then send a check that is an overpay (typically by sending $3000 instead of $300), and claim that they accidentally made a mistake. Then, they\u2019ll ask you to send them back the difference, at which point the original check will bounce, and you\u2019ll be out whatever money you sent, plus whatever money you spent on equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Phishing and Whaling <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you know anything about modern scams, you should already be familiar with phishing<\/a>. For those who need a refresher, phishing is a popular type of scam that lures victims into clicking on malicious links that can lead users to downloading malware or inputting sensitive private information on spoofed websites<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whaling<\/a>, on the other hand, is a less talked-about sibling to phishing, where the targets are specifically high-profile individuals at certain businesses (i.e., CEOs, CFOs, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it works:<\/strong> Rather than using the promise of a new job to get people to click a link, scammers will use fake or stolen LinkedIn profiles to message individuals in an attempt to get them to click on a link. The contents of the link can vary, from fake forms meant to steal information, all the way to malware designed to infiltrate whole company systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to whaling attacks, scammers often put in much more research, as compromising \u201chigh-value\u201d targets can result in a much bigger payday. Other than being more convincing and having a specific target, whaling generally works the same as phishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Investment Scams <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

LinkedIn is all about business relationships, which makes it not so strange when someone reaches out with an investment opportunity. While a little bit of due diligence should stop a scammer in theory, in reality, people make mistakes when presented with an \u201camazing\u201d opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it works: <\/strong>Scammers reach out with some investment opportunity, either claiming they can boost your business or are looking for investors like you for some special opportunity. They\u2019ll typically have a pretty thought-out pitch that seems legit on the surface (other than the too good to be true returns they promise), and that you only need to send them some money to get started. You know how this one goes: they take your money and disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. Compromised Account Scams <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As if it weren\u2019t enough dodging fake jobs, investments, and links on LinkedIn, you should also be regularly making sure your LinkedIn account is safe and secure. That\u2019s because scammers will take over LinkedIn accounts in order to scam people connected with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it works: <\/strong>Whether through a LinkedIn scam or some other scam that gives them access to your various account usernames and passwords, scammers take over your account and begin messaging your contacts as if they were you. People are obviously going to be far more trusting of someone they know, which means they\u2019re more likely to click a link without thinking twice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Avoid Getting Scammed On LinkedIn <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Simply knowing about common scams is a solid starting point for identifying and avoiding them. But scammers are always coming up with new ways to trick people into giving up their private information and money, so here are some general warning signs to look out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n