Date Published: Spetember 2026
If you are on social media, have an email address or a phone, odds are you have been targeted at some point by a Scammer. But…on LinkedIn? Recently, a Recruiter on my team reported that one of her candidates had been contacted by a “Recruiter” on LinkedIn, claiming to be representing one of our clients – a well-known, national IMB, with a job opportunity. The candidate quickly became suspicious based on the questions that were asked of her, as well as a request to send an “application” including critical personal information, to a sketchy sounding email address. In attempting to identify a Profile matching the name the “Recruiter” used, it was very evident that it was not legit. The only matching name belonging to an active profile was for someone in South Africa who was not in Recruiting.
After some basic digging online, I discovered that this is a common occurrence on LinkedIn, often with devastating consequences.
The Hidden Risks Behind Professional Networking
LinkedIn has built its reputation as the world’s most trusted professional network, with over 1.3 million members globally. Yet, LinkedIn scams have surged in recent years, with the platform detecting more than 83 million fake profiles and 117 million spam or scam incidents between January and June 2025.
LinkedIn job scams range from those targeting desperate job seekers to sophisticated fraud schemes that drain entire retirement accounts, and the threats are costly. The Federal Trade Commission reported that job and employment scam losses jumped from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million in 2024 — a more than fivefold increase in four years.
Whether you are actively searching for a new role, networking with peers, expanding your brand or simply keeping your profile current, understanding how LinkedIn scams work is your first, and best, defense.
Why LinkedIn Has Become a Playground for Scammers
Scammers are active on LinkedIn, and the platform has become one of the most preferred hunting grounds. Unlike other social networks, LinkedIn users voluntarily publish their job titles, employers, backgrounds, income signals and career aspirations, giving fraudsters a ready-made dossier on every potential target. With more than 8,200 job applications submitted per minute on the platform, fraudsters have the perfect environment to create seemingly credible job listings.
LinkedIn’s professional context is a big part of its scam problem. Because users expect to be contacted by recruiters, business partners, colleagues and potential employers, they are naturally more trusting of unsolicited outreach than they would be on Facebook or Instagram.
Researchers at cybersecurity firm NordLayer, who surveyed 500 respondents in Canada, the UK and the U.S., found that over one-third of respondents were aware of multiple LinkedIn frauds using their organization name. The platform does respond — between January and June 2025 it blocked 97% of fake accounts — but the sheer volume means sophisticated scammers still slip through.
Common Scams on LinkedIn
There are dozens of scam variations operating on LinkedIn at any given time. The unifying thread is the exploitation of professional trust: scammers mimic recruiters, executives, support staff or fellow professionals to lower people’s guard before extracting money, credentials or sensitive data.
If you notice any combination of these signals, it’s wise to treat the interaction with heightened skepticism before proceeding.
Fake Job Offer Scams
LinkedIn fake job scams are the most prevalent threat on the platform. A fraudster, posing as a recruiter or hiring manager, contacts you with an unsolicited message describing a high-paying, low-effort remote role. The position often advertises an unusually generous salary, minimal requirements and a suspiciously quick hiring timeline.
How it works: Once you express interest, the scammer sends you a “job application” link or a PDF attachment that either harvests your personal data or downloads malware onto your device. Some will conduct a fake interview via chat before “hiring” you. Then, ask for bank details for direct deposit setup, or charge upfront fees for equipment, background checks or onboarding materials. In 2025, the FTC received 3 million fraud reports with losses totaling $15.9 billion.
LinkedIn job seekers who have publicly set their profile to “Open to Work” are particularly vulnerable, as this flag signals that you may be more receptive to outreach. If a job offer arrives without a formal interview or documentation or asks for payment of any kind before you start, walk away immediately.
Fake Recruiter Scams
Fake recruiter scams go a step beyond fake job posts: here, a fully constructed LinkedIn persona impersonates a legitimate talent acquisition professional, often with a stolen headshot, a plausible employer listed and a handful of mutual connections.
How it works: The fake LinkedIn recruiter engages you in a convincing conversation about your career ambitions, then steers you toward a malicious link, data-harvesting application form or request for your home address, date of birth or Social Security number — all touted as routine pre-screening steps. A red flag is when the recruiter’s email domain does not match the company they claim to represent (for example, a “Google recruiter” whose email ends in @gmail.com).
Last year, the FTC said it received over one million reports about imposter scams, with consumers reporting more than $3.5 billion in losses.
LinkedIn Phishing Emails and Messages
Phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the cybercriminal playbook, and LinkedIn has become one of its most impersonated brands. In 2022, LinkedIn topped the list of brands most spoofed in phishing campaigns, accounting for more than half of all phishing emails in a single quarter.
How it works: You receive an email or in-platform message that appears to come from LinkedIn. They will mimick the platform’s branding, logo and tone, informing you of a new connection request, job opportunity or urgent “security alert.” Clicking the link takes you to a convincing but fake LinkedIn login page. This page captures your credentials or directly downloads malware. Subject lines scammers use include variations of “You appeared in 3 searches this week,” “Your profile has been viewed,” and “Action required: Verify your account.”
Always check that the sender’s email address ends in @linkedin.com — not a variation like “linkedin-support@gmail.com”— and hover over any link before clicking to verify where it actually leads. When in doubt, go directly to linkedin.com in a new browser tab rather than following a link.
Tech Support
“Tech support” scams leverage the LinkedIn brand itself. A message arrives — by email or LinkedIn Message — claiming to be from LinkedIn’s customer support team, warning that your account has been compromised, flagged for unusual activity or is at risk of suspension.
How it works: The scammer urges you to call a phone number or click a link to “verify” your identity. If you call, they may ask for your login credentials, payment card details, location details or permission to access your computer remotely. Granting remote access is particularly dangerous — it allows scammers to install malware, spy on your device or steal saved passwords and financial data.
The key thing to remember is that LinkedIn does not offer phone-based customer support: any call or message claiming to be from “LinkedIn Support” requesting remote access or sensitive account information amounts to a scam. Legitimate account security issues are handled through linkedin.com’s official help center.
Forward suspicious emails to phishing@linkedin.com.
LinkedIn Message Scams and Spear-Phishing
Not all LinkedIn message scams are blunt — spear-phishing attacks use the detailed professional information on your public profile to craft highly personalized messages that are much harder to recognize as fraudulent.
How it works: A cybercriminal researches your employer, role and connections. Then, sends a message impersonating a colleague, client, partner or industry professional — complete with references to your actual projects or company initiatives. The message typically asks you to click a link, review a shared document, provide login credentials, or simply connect with them.
These attacks can be aimed at individuals or weaponized against entire organizations. If a scammer obtains an employee’s credentials through a personalized LinkedIn message, they can use them to access corporate systems well beyond LinkedIn.
LinkedIn WhatsApp Scams
One of the clearest red flags in any LinkedIn scam is a request to move the conversation off the platform and onto WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, or another messaging app. This pivot is deliberate: LinkedIn actively monitors fraudulent behavior, while third-party apps offer scammers an unmonitored space to operate.
How it works: After making initial contact, the scammer quickly says something like, “It’s easier to communicate on WhatsApp” or “Our company uses this channel for candidates.” Once you’re off LinkedIn, the scammer can operate without the platform’s fraud detection tools and it becomes much harder to report them or preserve a trace of the interaction.
LinkedIn Romance Scams (Pig Butchering)
Romance scams on LinkedIn have evolved into one of the most financially devastating fraud categories in existence. The modern version, often called “pig butchering” after the scammer’s strategy of “fattening up” a victim with affection before the financial “slaughter,” grew nearly 40% year-on-year in 2024 according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, which tracked at least $9.9 billion in total crypto scam revenue that year, with pig butchering accounting for roughly a third of that figure.
How it works: The scammer creates a convincing professional persona on LinkedIn and sends you a connection request. They build genuine-seeming rapport through thoughtful messages, shared interests, banter and expressions of affection or friendship. Eventually, they introduce a “can’t-miss” cryptocurrency or investment opportunity, guiding you to a fake trading platform that shows fabricated profits. Once you invest, they disappear with everything.
A documented case in Ohio involved a victim losing half of his $500,000 savings after being contacted through LinkedIn by a scammer posing as “Kristina Tian.” Always be suspicious of a new connection who quickly becomes unusually attentive, especially if they introduce financial topics.
What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed on LinkedIn
If you believe you have fallen victim to a LinkedIn scam, act quickly. The speed of your response can limit the financial and reputational damage. Here are the key steps to take:
- Stop all contact. Block the scammer on LinkedIn and other platforms where you have been communicating.
- Report to LinkedIn. Use the “Report” button on the profile or message, or forward suspicious emails to phishing@linkedin.com.
- Report to authorities. In the U.S., file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. If cryptocurrency was involved, also report to the CFTC at cftc.gov.
- Contact your bank or card issuer if you shared payment information or transferred money. Request a freeze or reversal as quickly as possible. Credit card charges may be reversible; wire transfers and crypto transactions typically are not.
- Change your LinkedIn password and any other accounts that share the same credentials. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven’t already.
- Preserve all evidence. Screenshot conversations, save email headers and note any platform names, wallet addresses or phone numbers used by the scammer. These can be valuable to investigators.
- If personal identifying information such as your Social Security number or passport was shared, consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
Know the Signs of a Fake LinkedIn Profile
Fake profiles tend to have inconsistencies or information that cannot be easily verified. Aa polished headshot that returns suspicious results on a reverse image search (try Google Images or TinEye), a vague or patchy career timeline, a small or zero count of mutual connections, an account created very recently, and little or no post activity.
Other signs include generic or copied biographies, endorsements from accounts that look equally suspicious and contact information such as a Gmail address where a company email domain would be expected.
These are just a few of the many scams circulating on LinkedIn. For the full list and more information, see the full article:
For the full article:
April 3, 2026 By Anisha Sircar,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/technology/article/how-to-spot-and-avoid-linkedin-scams
By Tami Coffey
