Spotting Suspicious LinkedIn Recruiter Accounts

In her latest blog, Kirsty Whitty looks at suspicious LinkedIn recruiter accounts and gives her advice on spotting them.

In all walks of life there are dodgy characters lurking in the digital shadows trying to take advantage of vulnerability.

Today, we need to talk seriously about identifying fake LinkedIn “recruiter” accounts. These are scams waiting to happen, preying on people, especially those proudly displaying the #OpenToWork banner, hoping you’re desperate enough to drop your guard.

One red flag alone doesn’t necessarily mean an account is fake. But if you spot a few of these, there’s a very strong chance you’re dealing with someone who isn’t who they claim to be. And trust me, these aren’t always bots; there are real people behind these accounts, seeking to take advantage of others.

The Hidden Dangers

These fake accounts aren’t on LinkedIn for a bit of fun. They’re after something, and it’s usually your personal security or your hard-earned cash. Here’s what they’re typically trying to pull:

• Identity scams – they want your personal information – think passport copies, National Insurance numbers, or even your home address if it’s on your CV. This data can be used for all sorts of nefarious activities.
• Financial scams -this is often about getting your bank details, coercing you to buy something from a specific website, sending gift cards, or even engaging in money laundering where they send you money and then ask you to send a portion back. They might also demand payment for “training” or “equipment” before you start a non-existent job.
• Account takeover scams – they might convince you that your website, portfolio, or even your LinkedIn profile needs “optimising” or “improving,” then ask for your login details. Once they have them, say goodbye to your account.
• Dodgy services – they might offer to “improve” your CV, provide “training,” “mentoring,” or “career coaching” – all for a fee, of course. Sometimes these services are lacking in any value, but often, they just vanish with your money. Beware of anyone promising a guaranteed job or visa if you pay them.
• Fake job scams – your experience is so “impressive” that they offer you a job with zero or one interview! These often lead to WhatsApp interviews where you have no idea who you’re actually chatting with. These usually funnel you into one of the other scams mentioned above.

Common Red Flags

Let’s look at the tell-tale signs these dodgy accounts often display:

Profile Creation Date

You can easily check when a profile was created. Go to their profile, click “More,” then “About This Profile.” If it’s brand new – say, created in the last few weeks or months – it’s not a definitive sign of a scam, but it’s a very common characteristic of fake accounts.

Their Location

A surprising number of fake accounts claim to be based in obscure or tiny locations that reputable recruitment firms rarely operate from. 

Connections and Followers

Often, these accounts have either suspiciously few connections (zero or very low numbers) or, conversely, an unnaturally high number like 15,000, suggesting they’ve bought followers. Don’t be fooled by shared connections.

Education Details

Fake profiles frequently list degrees from well-known universities with very little detail. While not always the case, if their written English is poor despite claiming to have spent years at a top English-speaking university, that’s a red flag.

Work Experience

They often show minimal work history – perhaps one or two jobs – usually claiming to work for a famous recruitment company.It’s improbable for someone pictured in their 50s or 60s to have only one or two short stints in their career, especially in today’s dynamic job market.

Recent Activity

Their posts and comments are typically generic, copied-and-pasted messages to multiple users. They rarely, if ever, post original content themselves.

Profile Photo

Trust your gut here. Sometimes, photos look a bit “off”. AI-generated images are becoming more common, and sometimes they just don’t look quite right.

The job market is competitive enough without having to dodge these digital vultures. Stay vigilant, trust your instincts, and if something feels too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Your career journey is important, and protecting yourself from scams is a crucial part of that.

Always Think Before You Share

Always be mindful of the information you share on social media. Even seemingly harmless details can be pieced together by scammers to build a profile of you.

If you are concerned or suspicious about something, there are many support services available such as LinkedIn scam support, Action Fraud, Citizens Advice and many more.