Are there scams on LinkedIn? How to spot fake profiles and messages
Quick answer
Yes. Fake profiles and messages on LinkedIn ask for money or sensitive information, push you off the platform, or offer unrealistic jobs. LinkedIn says to look for the signals below, then report the profile from the More menu.
- Comes by
- Social media, App, Email
- Pretends to be
- Last updated
How it works
LinkedIn's help center describes how fake profiles behave. They may impersonate a real person, represent no real person at all, or show deceptive behavior. The platform lists signals to watch for:
- Suspicious behavior: requests for money or sensitive information, asking to move the conversation off LinkedIn right away, or offering unrealistic job opportunities or services.
- Mismatched details: job titles that don't make sense, unrealistic career timelines or inconsistent dates.
- Unusual photos: celebrity pictures, stock photos or overly edited images.
- Impersonation: claiming to be a public figure or company executive with no verifiable connections, or duplicating a profile of someone you know.
- Little or no information: though LinkedIn notes many real members are new or private, so this alone isn't proof.
What the scammer wants varies: money, logins, identity details or access to your contacts.
Red flags
- A request for money or sensitive information
- An immediate request to move to another app
- An unrealistic job or service offer
- A profile with mismatched job titles or inconsistent dates
- A celebrity, stock or heavily edited photo
- A claim to be an executive or public figure with no verifiable connections
Example message
Hello, I came across your profile and I'm hiring for a remote position that pays well with no experience needed. Message me on [messaging app] to get started.
What to do
- 1
Don't send money or details
Don't share financial or sensitive information with someone you only know from a profile.
- 2
Check the profile for the signals
Look at the photo, job history and connections. LinkedIn notes an incomplete profile isn't proof, so look for more than one sign.
- 3
Report the profile
On the member's profile click More, then Report / Block, choose Report, and select that the person is impersonating someone or the account is not a real person. LinkedIn says the person won't know you reported them.
- 4
Verify any job offer yourself
Look up the company and contact it through details you find yourself, not those in the message.
- 5
If you shared details or paid
Contact your bank, change passwords and review what to do after a data breach.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Fake recruiters often reach people whose work history and email are easy to find. That data also appears on people-search sites and in breaches. Serus finds the people-search and data broker listings that show your phone number and address and removes them, and alerts you when your details turn up in a breach, so fewer scammers can build a believable story about you.
More LinkedIn scams
Frequently asked
Are there really scams on LinkedIn?
Yes. LinkedIn's help center describes fake profiles that impersonate people or aren't real people, and lists signs of deceptive behavior.
Is a profile with no photo fake?
Not necessarily. LinkedIn says many members are new, private or still building their profile, so look for additional signs.
Will the person know I reported them?
No. LinkedIn says reported members won't know who made the report.
What should I do about a job offer from a stranger?
Be wary of unrealistic offers and requests to move off LinkedIn, and verify the company yourself.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
