With LinkedIn being one of the most popular professional social media platforms, it’s important to be able to identify real messages from fake or suspicious ones. LinkedIn messages can come from recruiters, colleagues, new connections and even scammers trying to get personal information. Being able to tell real messages apart from fake ones can help you avoid falling for scams or wasting time responding to suspicious messages. There are a few key things to look out for when evaluating if a LinkedIn message is genuine.
Check the sender’s profile
One of the first things to look at is the sender’s LinkedIn profile. A suspicious or fake account may have limited information, few connections, no photo or a generic stock photo as the profile image. Real recruiters and professionals tend to have detailed profiles with a professional headshot, numerous connections, work and education history, recommendations and longstanding membership on LinkedIn.
However, a new account doesn’t necessarily mean the message is fake. Sometimes new users sign up specifically to make new connections. But in combination with other red flags, a sparse or empty profile should make you cautious about responding.
Look for personalized messages
Generic, copied and pasted messages are common tactics for spammers and scammers. If the message seems impersonal, unrelated to your industry, or not addressed to you specifically, that’s a red flag. Legitimate LinkedIn messages will be customized with your name, make reference to your profile and expertise, and demonstrate knowledge of your industry.
For example:
Suspicious message: “Hi, I saw your profile and think you’d be a great fit for an exciting opportunity I have! Get in touch so we can connect.”
Real message: “Hi [your name], I came across your LinkedIn profile and saw that you have 5+ years in [your industry]. My company is looking for a [position title] and your skills seem like a great match. Let me know if you’re interested in learning more about the role.”
Watch for poor grammar and spelling
While the occasional typo can happen from anyone, consistent poor grammar, spelling mistakes and incoherent phrasing are giveaways of an unauthorized or foreign scammer. Legitimate professionals will craft messages with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.
However, don’t discount messages from non-native English speakers. Look at the overall message quality rather than just spelling errors.
Be wary of urgent calls to action
Scam messages will often have a sense of urgency, demanding an immediate response or action from you. Requests for personal information, instructions to download software, or click on a suspicious link should raise immediate red flags.
Genuine LinkedIn messages won’t pressure you into quick actions without building rapport first. And reputable companies will never ask for personal information like credit card or Social Security numbers directly through LinkedIn.
Watch for “too good to be true” offers
Just like email phishing scams, many LinkedIn scams bait victims with offers that sound too good to be true, such as tremendously high salaries or easy remote work. Any message making amazing claims or offers without proof should be met with skepticism.
If an opportunity seems unrealistic, it probably is. Do outside research on the company and position to see if the offer aligns with average industry ranges.
Check for verified accounts
LinkedIn has a verification program that adds a blue checkmark to company and influencer profiles to indicate official, authenticated accounts. While the absence of a checkmark alone doesn’t prove a message is fake, verified accounts do give an extra layer of legitimacy.
You can simply click on a company name in a message to view their LinkedIn profile and look for the verification checkmark. For individual contacts, you’ll need to view their full profile to see if they’re verified.
Trust your instincts
If a message just seems “off” for reasons you can’t quite articulate, trust your instincts. Don’t ignore red flags just because a message checks some of the “real” boxes. Scammers are getting more sophisticated and can mimic components of genuine messages.
Go with your gut feeling if a message seems shady, suspicious or too good to be true, even if you can’t pinpoint exact reasons. It’s better to miss out on a dubious opportunity than put your personal data and finances at risk.
Look for logical inconsistencies
Use common sense when evaluating message content. If details in a message contradict themselves or just don’t logically make sense, that’s a strong sign of a scam.
For example, be wary if:
– The sender claims to have found your profile, but nothing in the message matches your background.
– Details about a supposed job opportunity change or don’t line up.
– The message has many grammar and spelling errors, but claims to be from a major corporation.
Let logical inconsistencies help you identify false messaging.
Research the company
Don’t just take a company name at face value in a message. Do some digging to confirm a company is real. Look up their website to make sure it looks professional. Search for the company name in LinkedIn’s database to see if they have a verified page. Check for a company profile, history, legitimate contact info, and signs of real employee activity.
Fake companies won’t have much of an online footprint beyond the messages they’re sending. But extensive information across legitimate sources will confirm whether a company is authentic.
Watch for spoofing tactics
Scammers will often “spoof” real company names, profiles and contact info to appear credible. For example, an email might use a real company’s name and logos, but the email address domain won’t match. Or a message will come from an individual claiming to work for a known firm, but their profile shows no affiliation.
Don’t just assume names you recognize are legit. Do a little digging to confirm message sources are who they claim to be.
Ask for more credentials
If you’re still unsure about a message, request more background from the sender, such as:
– Full name, company details, position and LinkedIn profile link if not provided.
– A company website, phone number or address to independently confirm.
– Specifics on the opportunity they contacted you about.
A real professional will readily provide more background. Scammers will often disappear or make excuses when pressed for more information.
Report suspicious behavior
If a message clearly seems like a scam attempt, report it through LinkedIn’s reporting feature. You can report an account or specific message as fraudulent directly from the profile or the “More” menu in a message thread.
Reporting scams helps LinkedIn identify bad actors on the platform and removes the content so others won’t be fooled. Make sure to also block the account from contacting you again.
When in doubt, don’t engage
If you can’t clearly confirm a message is legitimate, it’s safest to simply not engage with the sender. Don’t reply or open any links/attachments within a questionable message. Silence or lack of response from you provides scammers less ammunition to target you further. Plus, not engaging saves you time and energy spent on potentially fraudulent contacts.
Watch for these common tactics in fake messages
Scammers frequently use the same schemes and methods across LinkedIn to try tricking people. Here are some of the most common fake message tactics to watch out for:
Job offers with big pay for minimal work
These messages promise suspiciously high salaries or outrageous benefits for easy remote work that requires minimal effort. Often the “job” involves transferring payments or wiring money on behalf of the company.
“You’ve been recommended”
Scammers claim someone referred you for an amazing job opportunity, but leave out any specifics about the role or mutual connection.
Requesting personal information
Fake messages ask for personal details like credit card info, bank account numbers, SSN, or copies of IDs supposedly for “background checks”.
Phishing links
Messages include links to fake login pages to try and steal usernames and passwords or links to malware download sites.
Poor grammar/spelling
Messages and profiles riddled with awkward phrasing, bad grammar and spelling errors point to unauthorized scammers, likely operating overseas.
Follow up messages insisting you respond
If you ignore an initial scam message, follow ups will insist you respond urgently or threaten consequences like losing the “job”.
Too informal tones
Unprofessional language like “Hey”, excessive exclamation points, and overly informal tones signal scam attempts trying to build false friendships.
Examples of fake vs real LinkedIn messages
To illustrate what real and fake LinkedIn messages look like, here are some examples:
Fake Message
Subject: Urgent – Account Manager Position
Hello there!
I came across you’re profile and think you would be a great Account Manager for our company. This is an easy remote position were you can earn $60,000 with little time investment required! To get started, simply click here [malicious link] and provide some basic info and we will get you paid. Respond quickly because this opportunity won’t last long!
Thanks,
John
Why it’s fake:
– Sender profile shows stock image and no connections
– Impossibly high salary for easy job
– Poor grammar and punctuation
– Urgent call to action
– Phishing link
Real Message
Subject: Opportunity at XYZ Company
Hi Jane,
My name is Sarah and I’m a recruiter at [Verified Company Page] which is a marketing automation software company. I came across your LinkedIn profile and thought you would be a great fit for our Client Services Manager role based on your background in account management and communications.
The Client Services Manager is responsible for onboarding new clients, being the main point of contact for questions/issues, and ensuring client retention. I’d love to set up a call to discuss the position and our company in more detail if you’re interested. Let me know if you have any availability in the next week or if you have any other questions!
Best,
Sarah
Why it’s real:
– Sender has detailed profile with recommendations
– Customized message referencing your background
– Company name clicks through to verified page
– No urgency, normal interview process
– Professionally written
Protect yourself by being vigilant
LinkedIn scammers and spammers are becoming more common and sophisticated. But you can avoid getting duped by being vigilant about vetting any messages you receive. Use the tips in this article to analyze message sources, content and tone.
Trust your instincts if something seems “off” about a message, even if you can’t pinpoint why. Don’t let urgency or high-paying offers cloud your judgment before confirming legitimacy. And never provide personal or financial details over LinkedIn.
Following basic precautions will help you safely navigate LinkedIn messaging and focus your time on real opportunities. With so many legitimate connections to make on LinkedIn, you don’t need to waste effort on scammers trying to take advantage.
Conclusion
LinkedIn is a prime target for scammers due to its huge professional network full of valuable personal details. But there are many clear signs to distinguish real messages from fakes if you know what to look for.
Key steps include scrutinizing sender profiles, watching for poor grammar, unrealistic offers and urgent tones, verifying companies, looking for inconsistencies, and trusting your instincts. Examples of fake versus real messages also showcase the patterns scammers follow compared to legitimate contacts.
Stay vigilant, don’t take anything at face value, and carefully vet any messages you receive. Following these best practices will help you identify and avoid scammers so you can focus on the many real connections and opportunities LinkedIn has to offer. With some awareness and caution, you can benefit from LinkedIn messaging safely and effectively.