As LinkedIn has grown to over 722 million users, it has become an essential platform for networking and making professional connections. With all those users comes the potential to connect with new people and opportunities. However, it also opens the door for bad actors and scammers. So how do you know if a message you receive on LinkedIn is legitimate or sketchy? Here are some tips to help you discern.
Understand the different types of LinkedIn messages
Not all LinkedIn messages are created equal. There are a few main ways people can contact you on LinkedIn:
- InMail – Direct messages sent through LinkedIn’s InMail system. These will show up in your LinkedIn inbox.
- Connection requests – Requests to add someone to your network. These appear under the My Network tab.
- Comments on posts – Messages posted as comments on your LinkedIn posts.
- Group messages – Messages sent within LinkedIn Groups you are both members of.
The type of message can offer clues about legitimacy. For example, direct InMails are more likely to be serious compared to random comments.
Check their profile and network
Before responding to any message, visit the sender’s profile. Look for these signs of legitimacy:
- Complete profile – Photo, location, education, work history, recommendations, etc.
- Longstanding account – Joined LinkedIn years ago versus last week.
- Connections – Has a robust network of connections.
- Engagement – Actively participates in discussions.
- Shared groups – You belong to some of the same groups.
Incomplete or empty profiles with few connections may be red flags for fake accounts. The more complete the profile, the higher likelihood it’s a real person.
Watch for unusual behavior or requests
While scammers are sneaky, sometimes their messages give them away. Watch for these unusual behaviors:
- Pushy requests – Aggressively asks to connect on other platforms like WhatsApp or asks for personal info.
- Job offers – Promises lucrative job opportunities out of the blue.
- Investment opportunities – Wants you to invest in their venture with guaranteed returns.
- Romantic interest – Professes strong feelings without ever meeting you.
- Sob stories – Shares a tragic personal story and asks for financial help.
- Hard sales tactics – Pressures you to buy products, services, or make donations.
Legitimate contacts will not immediately overstep professional boundaries. Be wary of any message that seems “too good to be true.”
Look for copied and pasted messages
Scammers often spam identical messages to many people without customizing them. Here are signs of copied messages:
- Generic greetings – “Hello”, “Hi there”, without using your name.
- Vague introductions – No specifics on where they know you from.
- Quick pivots – Makes an unrelated sales pitch or request after a brief greeting.
- Sounds robotic – Uses stiff, formal language.
- Repeats same phrases – Sends identical content to your other messages.
Personalized messages that demonstrate knowledge of you or your work are a better sign of legitimate interest.
Watch for bots and fake profiles
Bots and fake accounts are rampant on LinkedIn. Telltale signs include:
- Activity gaps – No consistent posting history over time.
- Few connections – Small network of connections.
- Connection mismatches – Connections are random industries.
- Suspicious job titles – Vague or questionable job titles.
- Strange photo – Photo looks computer-generated or stolen from elsewhere online.
Real profiles tend to have long-term, steady activity histories with logical connections.
Use LinkedIn tools to vet profiles
LinkedIn offers tools to help vet profiles:
- Reverse image search profile photos using Google Images to see if they are stolen from elsewhere online.
- View someone’s full list of connections to look for oddities.
- Search their name on Google to find mismatches between their profile and outside info.
- Use LinkedIn search tools to see if you have any shared connections who can vouch for them.
Put their profile information to the test outside of LinkedIn to double-check legitimacy.
Ask for social proof or credentials
If you want further verification, here are some things you can ask of the sender:
- Ask for a LinkedIn recommendation from a mutual connection.
- Request they share their company website, Twitter profile, or other social media.
- Verify claims like education or certifications through transcripts, licenses, etc.
- Set up an initial Zoom call to introduce yourselves.
This forces them to back up their identity and credentials. A legitimate contact will readily provide this.
Go with your gut instinct
At the end of the day, trust your intuition. If a message just feels off or suspicious, treat it that way. It’s better to miss out on a real opportunity than fall victim to a scam. Proceed carefully until you can verify someone is legit.
Conclusion
Vetting LinkedIn messages is crucial to avoiding scams and fake opportunities. While you don’t have to be paranoid about every new message, proceeding with caution can save you time wasted and potential risks. By examining profiles, watching for unusual behaviors, using LinkedIn tools, and requesting more proof, you can filter out scammers. If needed, let an offer sit until you’ve verified legitimacy. With so many people now on LinkedIn, take steps to ensure those you engage with are trustworthy.
