LinkedIn scams to watch out for: fake recruiters and task jobs
Quick answer
Scammers use LinkedIn messages and fake job posts to push task jobs, phishing links and requests for money or personal data. A real employer won't ask you to pay to get a job or to deposit money. Don't click, report it to LinkedIn and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Comes by
- Social media, Email, Text, Website
- Pretends to be
- Last updated
How it works
LinkedIn is a real platform, and scammers use it because people expect unsolicited messages from recruiters. The tricks match the ones the FTC describes for job and phishing scams.
- Task scams. You get an unexpected message offering online work, such as liking videos or rating product images, for a "commission". The app shows a growing balance of earnings that is fake. At some point it asks you to deposit your own money, usually in crypto, to continue or withdraw. The money is gone and so are the fake earnings.
- Phishing. A message or email that looks like it comes from a company you know says there's a problem with your account or asks you to confirm personal or financial information, and links to a page that steals it.
LinkedIn's own help page lists warning signs such as offers that seem too good to be true, messages with spelling or grammar errors, messages not addressed to you personally, and requests for personal or financial information.
Red flags
- An unexpected job offer from someone you've never dealt with
- Pay for a job, equipment, training or a "deposit" to unlock earnings
- A request to move the chat to WhatsApp or text
- Offers to pay you for rating or liking things online
- Generic greeting, spelling errors or a message that isn't addressed to you
- A link to "verify" your account or update payment information
Example message
Hi, your profile caught our eye and have a remote position. You can earn a daily commission completing simple optimization tasks. Message us on [messaging app] to get started at [link].
What to do
- 1
Don't click or reply
If you don't have an account with the company or know the person, treat the message as a possible scam, report it and delete it.
- 2
Check the company a different way
If you think it could be real, contact the company through a phone number or website you know is real, not the details in the message.
- 3
Never pay to get paid
The FTC says paying anyone to get a job is a sure sign of a scam.
- 4
If you sent money, call your bank or payment provider
Tell them it was fraud and ask whether the payment can be stopped. For crypto, keep the wallet address and transaction ID.
- 5
If you shared passwords or personal data
Change the passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication, and go to IdentityTheft.gov for steps based on what you shared.
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
Scammers get names, phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses from people-search sites and from data breaches. Fake recruiters often quote your job title or employer to look real. Serus finds where your contact details are listed and removes them from the sites that hold them, and alerts you when your email shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
More LinkedIn scams
Frequently asked
Is LinkedIn a scam?
No. LinkedIn is a real platform. Scammers pretend to be recruiters or companies on it, and LinkedIn publishes help pages on spotting and reporting scams.
Will a real employer ask me to pay anything?
The FTC says never pay anyone to get paid or to get a job. Honest companies don't ask.
What is a task scam?
A fake job where you complete simple tasks for supposed commission. The FTC says the earnings are fake and the app eventually asks you to deposit your own money.
How do I report a phishing email?
The FTC says to forward phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group and report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Forward phishing texts to 7726 (SPAM).
Sources
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