With the rise of remote work and online job searching, knowing how to spot fake job postings is an important skill. LinkedIn is one of the top sites job seekers use to find new opportunities. But like any large online platform, there are risks of coming across fraudulent listings. Thankfully, there are ways to analyze a LinkedIn job post to determine if it’s trustworthy or sketchy. This guide will outline the top signs of illegitimate job ads and provide tips for safely navigating your LinkedIn job search.
Scrutinize the Company Details
The first place to start is by investigating the company itself. Take time to thoroughly research the employer to see if they seem real.
Here are things to look for:
- Visit the company website – Does it look professional? Read through the “About Us” and any press pages.
- Search for the company on Google – Are there many reviews and online mentions? Or does it have almost no web presence?
- Look up the company on LinkedIn – Do they have a company page with a decent amount of followers and activity? Or does their page look bare?
- Search for the business on state corporation databases – Make sure they are officially registered and authorized to operate.
Legitimate employers will have in-depth company information available across multiple online sources. If you find little about the business outside of the job ad itself, that’s a major red flag.
Watch for Questionable Contact Methods
Scam recruiters often use unusual contact methods to avoid detection. Here are some suspicious communications to watch out for:
- Personal email accounts like @gmail.com or @hotmail.com instead of company emails
- SMS texts or messaging apps instead of email/phone
- Typos and poor grammar
- Requests to communicate outside the LinkedIn platform
Professional recruiters will keep communication within LinkedIn and use official company contact info. Be wary if a potential employer tries to bring communication off the network.
Look for Vague, Too-Good-To-Be-True Listings
One of the clearest signs of a fake ad is an unbelievable opportunity or vague, generic job description. Scammers try to lure in as many applicants as possible with these tactics.
Watch for these warning signs:
- No specific requirements/qualifications listed
- Promise of “easy” work for a high salary
- Job duties are very broad or don’t align with the role’s title
- Listing doesn’t include an actual company name
- Role is not tied to a specific geographic location
Real employers posting legitimate roles will be much more precise. Exercise skepticism about anything that sounds too good to be true on LinkedIn.
Be Wary of Requests for Personal Information
Identity thieves and scammers often use fake job posts to harvest people’s personal information. Be extremely cautious if an alleged employer asks for any of the following:
- Bank account/routing numbers
- Copies of ID’s or driver’s licenses
- Passwords
- Access to bank accounts or credit cards
- Upfront payments in order to be “hired”
Reputable companies won’t ask for this level of sensitive information during the initial hiring stages. Share personal details only after extensive vetting and signing employment contracts.
Watch for Poor Grammar and Spelling
Sloppy writing is another giveaway of an unprofessional scammer. Typos, poor grammar, and incorrect details are common red flags.
Here are examples to look for:
- Misspelled company names or job titles
- Overuse of filler words – “kindly”, “urgently”, etc.
- Sending the wrong candidate name
- Use of improper titles like “recruiter” instead of “recruiter”
- Responses that don’t align with previous messages
While the occasional typo can happen, consistent errors suggest an unsophisticated scammer. Proper language skills indicate a real human resources professional.
Reverse Image Search Profile Pictures
Scammers will often steal stock photos or images of random people to use as profile pictures. You can catch them by reverse image searching any profile shots.
Here’s how:
- Save the photo or screenshot it
- Go to Google Images and click the camera icon
- Upload the image and run a search
- See if the photo appears elsewhere online
If the picture comes up all over the web, it’s likely a fake profile. Genuine recruiters will use authentic headshots.
Watch for New LinkedIn Profiles
Scammer profiles often feature a barebones LinkedIn presence. Be suspicious of any recruiters with:
- A profile created in the past few weeks/months
- Almost no connections
- Limited or no work experience listed
- Few endorsements and recommendations
- No profile photo
Established professionals will have in-depth, long-standing profiles. Avoid engaging with any new or sparse accounts.
Use LinkedIn’s Fraud Detection Tools
LinkedIn offers dedicated tools to help flag suspicious activity. Here are options to utilize:
- Report ads – Use the ‘Report’ button on concerning ads.
- Report profiles – Notify LinkedIn through the ‘Report profile’ option.
- Enable two-factor authentication – This adds an extra layer of security to your own account.
- Restrict invitations – Adjust settings so you only get invites from those connected to your network.
Don’t hesitate to notify LinkedIn when something doesn’t seem right. The more feedback they get, the better they can combat scam attempts.
Trust Your Instincts
At the end of the day, the best protection against fake listings is listening to your gut. Don’t ignore any instincts that a post seems shady or dishonest. It’s better to miss out on a questionable opportunity than put yourself at risk.
Here are important things to remember:
- If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- The hiring process should never require large amounts of personal information upfront.
- Legitimate employers will have an established online presence and use official contact methods.
- Take time to thoroughly vet any recruiter and company before moving forward.
Following these tips and watching for red flags can help job seekers safely navigate LinkedIn. Just be diligent about doing your research before interacting with any alleged opportunities. With caution, LinkedIn can still be a helpful source for finding your next great role.
Conclusion
Here are the key takeaways on how to spot fake LinkedIn job postings:
- Thoroughly research the company – Visit their website, check corporation filings, and read online reviews.
- Watch for unusual contact methods like personal emails or messaging apps.
- Be skeptical of vague, too-good-to-be-true listings.
- Never provide sensitive personal information upfront.
- Look for poor grammar, spelling errors, and inconsistent details.
- Reverse image search profile pictures to check for fakes.
- Avoid engaging with sparse, recently created profiles.
- Use LinkedIn’s reporting tools if something seems suspicious.
- Trust your instincts – if it seems shady, it likely is.
With awareness and caution, job seekers can protect themselves from scams. Focus your LinkedIn search on reputable employers to find fruitful opportunities.
