Are LinkedIn recruiting messages legit?

Receiving an unsolicited message on LinkedIn from a recruiter or hiring manager can be exciting, but it also raises questions about whether the opportunity is legitimate. There are certainly real job opportunities to be found via LinkedIn recruiting messages, but users should approach any unprompted communication with healthy skepticism.

Legitimate LinkedIn recruiting begins when a hiring manager or recruiter working to fill an open position proactively searches LinkedIn for potential candidates based on skills, experience, location and other criteria. They may send InMail messages to prospects they think could be a good fit in hopes of sparking their interest and ultimately receiving a job application.

These InMail recruiting messages will generally introduce the sender, mention the company they represent, describe the role or opportunity they are trying to fill, highlight some of the candidate’s skills and experience that caught their eye, and include a call to action to continue the discussion about the role. This is a standard good faith approach to talent sourcing.

Warning Signs of Suspicious LinkedIn Messages

While many LinkedIn recruiting messages are legitimate, there are also fake messages and even scams that users should watch out for. Here are some potential warning signs of suspicious messages:

• Messages from people you don’t know and have no connections in common
• Vague descriptions of the job opportunity without many specifics
• Requests for personal information upfront before an interview is scheduled
• Messages repurposed and sent en masse without personalization
• Opportunities that seem too good to be true or unrealistic
• Requests for upfront payments for training, equipment, or software
• Messages focused on selling products, services or business opportunities
• Poor grammar, spelling and language usage
• Requests to continue the conversation via text or personal email

Assessing Message Legitimacy

If you receive an unsolicited LinkedIn message from a recruiter, here are some steps you can take to assess its legitimacy:

1. Check the sender’s profile. Do they have a complete LinkedIn profile? Do they list an employer? Is it a company you recognize? Are they connected to other people you know? Real recruiters will have properly filled out LinkedIn profiles.
2. Look up the company. Search online for the company name, job listings and reviews. Scam recruiters may pretend to represent real companies. Verify it is an actual business before proceeding.
3. Ask for more specifics. Reply to the message asking for more details like: job description, responsibilities, qualifications, salary range, interview process, etc. The response will help reveal if it is a real opportunity.
4. Consider the customization. Personalized messages aligned to your background are more likely to be legitimate. Generic messages may signal a scam.
5. Never pay upfront. Real companies won’t ask for payment as part of the application process. Requests for money upfront are a huge red flag.
6. Don’t provide personal details. Until officially hired, never provide your SSN, bank details, IDs, or other sensitive information. Scammers phish for these.

Types of LinkedIn Recruiting Scams

Here are some common recruiter scams perpetrated on LinkedIn that job seekers should be aware of:

Fake Job Offers

Scammers pretend to represent a company with an appealing job opportunity. After expressing interest, they ask for personal details and payments to process applications, run background checks, pay for training or buy equipment. In reality, there is no job.

Money Mule Schemes

Scammers post listings for work-from-home jobs requiring employees to receive and transfer payments. In reality, the payments come from criminal activity and the “employee” launders stolen money.

Upfront Fee Scams

Scammers posing as recruiters collect upfront fees from applicants to process applications, schedule interviews, run background checks or train for jobs. After paying, applicants never hear from the scammers again.

Identity Theft

Scammers gather personal information under the pretense of a job opportunity to steal identities. Always avoid sharing info like SSNs, bank accounts, IDs, passwords etc. until officially hired.

Business Opportunity Scams

Scammers promote fake franchise opportunities, work-from-home business ventures, or investments that require upfront payments. Responding leads to losses not business opportunities.

Reporting LinkedIn Recruiting Scams

If you receive suspicious messages or identify a scam, report it. You can report fake LinkedIn accounts, misleading job posts, suspicious InMail messages and other scams.

To report concerns directly to LinkedIn:

1. Click the three dots icon next to the concerning message, post or account.
2. Select “Report/Report abuse or violation” from the dropdown menu.
3. Choose the reason for reporting: fake account, misleading job post, suspicious message etc.
4. Complete the reporting form with any relevant details.
5. Submit the report to LinkedIn for review.

You can also report recruitment scams to the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau to help identify and stop fraudulent schemes targeting job seekers.

Proceeding with Caution

With vigilance, LinkedIn users can take advantage of legitimate opportunities while avoiding falling victim to scams. Approach unsolicited messages skeptically, verify senders, ask for specifics and never pay upfront fees. Report suspicious activity so others don’t fall prey. Following these best practices allows job seekers to safely navigate the LinkedIn recruiting landscape.