Be careful what you post on LinkedIn: fake job scammers could see you as an easy target

By Staff Reporter Last updated Dec 17, 2024

Scammers are finding even seasoned talent easy targets given how much they publish online

Fake job scams are on the rise and they are targeting individuals who you’d think would never fall for a scam. Here’s what to look out for and how to protect yourself

According to a recent report by the Associated Press (AP), scammers are becoming increasingly adept at creating convincing fake job postings and impersonating legitimate recruiters. These scams often involve promises of high pay for little work, requests for personal information upfront, or even demands for money to secure the “position” or to cash cheques for equipment “on its way”.

Remote work

With the rise of remote work, more and more professionals are choosing the freedom and flexibility of contracting and freelancing. However, this shift has also brought with it an increase in sophisticated job scams targeting those seeking new opportunities.

Making your job search public

Other easy targets for scammers are people posting recent job redundancies and open-for-work statuses on LinkedIn. Think about it, they have your name, work history, skills and connections all at their fingertips. Any expression of desperation in your job hunt will make the scammer’s job even easier. They will approach you with the empathy card.

The AP report highlights several red flags that can help identify potential scams:

Unrealistic promises: Be wary of job offers that seem too good to be true, offering high salaries for minimal effort or experience.
Requests for upfront payments: Legitimate clients will never ask for money to secure a job. This includes fees for “training materials,” “background checks,” or “software.”
Pressure to act quickly: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pushing you to accept a job offer without giving you time to properly research the company or individual.
Poor communication: Be suspicious of vague job descriptions, grammatical errors in emails, and recruiters who are reluctant to provide detailed information about the company or project.
First contact through social media or text message: While you may get a contact request from a recruiter or head hunter via LinkedIn or even via text message, there is always a cause for concern for the latter. If you receive a link via a social media message or text from someone you have never worked with before, never open the link before verifying their identity by cross-referencing them on the official website of the agency or hiring company.
Spot copycat websites: You can spot fake websites by ensuring letters are corresponding to the alphabet of the company’s language. This is called Punycode website forgery. Similar scams may also occur using other alphabets/characters such as the Greek, Thai, Chinese, Japanese alphabets. For example, the Cyrillic alphabet has letters similar to Latin letters making it often used for cybercrime modes. For example, “ɑ” to replace the letter “a”.

Protecting yourself:

The AP report offers several practical steps contractors and freelancers can take to protect themselves:

Don’t respond to the message right away and check out the name of the recruiter to see if they are a real person with a verifiable social media presence
If the company has a job opening on its website, apply directly through the website
Thoroughly research potential clients: Verify the company’s existence and legitimacy through online searches and Companies House. Go to the company’s website (not a link sent to you) to find current job openings
Never share personal information upfront. Be cautious about providing sensitive data like your National Insurance number, birth date or bank details before signing a contract
Trust your instincts. If something feels off about a job offer, it’s probably best to walk away
Report suspected scams: Contact Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime

A common tactic is for scammers to send you a fake signing bonus and then ask you to send some money back, supposedly to cover expenses. This is a way for scammers to steal money from job seekers, according to Alvaro Puig, consumer education specialist at the US Federal Trade Commission.

“If you deposit a cheque and it’s fake, your account will show the money is there. But then days later, the bank will discover that it was a fake check,” Puig said.

By staying informed and taking proactive steps to protect themselves, contractors and freelancers can navigate the job market with confidence and avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.