How To Spot A Linkedin Fake Account Or Scammer?
Key Points:
- Favorite networking platform plagued with scammers.
- How to spot fake or scammer Linkedin profiles?
- Why do people create fake LinkedIn accounts?
- Do other social media platforms have fake profiles?
It was bound to happen. Your favorite business networking platform, Linkedin, is flooded with fake and scammer accounts. To top it off, if you connect with the wrong individual, they have access to critical and vital information about you.
In today’s video, Luis Alvarez, CEO of Alvarez Technology Group, goes into great detail about what is happening on Linkedin. He also shares his review process before connecting with anyone on the networking platform.
How To Spot Fake or Scammer Linkedin Profiles
Many newcomers to the platform need to be aware of the growing number of fake LinkedIn profiles. Before connecting with anyone on Linkedin, it is best to do some research beforehand. Here are a few key warning signs to help you spot a fake LinkedIn profile.
First, take a close look at the profile photo. The profile is likely fake if it looks like a stock photo or is otherwise suspicious.
Second, check for discrepancies in the information listed on the profile. Beware if there are inconsistencies in job titles, employment history, or other details.
Finally, take a look at the individual’s other connections. If they have very few or are from one country or industry, that is another red flag to stay away from them.
In Luis’ video, he mentions that he first asks himself if he wants to connect with this person. The other thing he does is check if the person has a business email and if he recognizes people he knows that are associated with this person.
Why Do People Create Fake LinkedIn Accounts?
The most valuable commodities you bring on the Internet are your data and personal information. With every unprotected action on our part, our data can easily be stolen, collected, analyzed, and sold without your knowledge.
One of the easiest and most profitable ways to grab your details is for a scammer to create a fake profile on a business networking platform and try to connect with you. Here are four fundamental reasons these fake profiles are created and exist:
- Steal someone else’s identity
- Gather a list of email addresses
- Phishing attempts
- Create trustworthiness
Though LinkedIn has its policies to battle bogus accounts, fraudsters continue to utilize the platform. They’re continually planning how to gather an individual’s details. However, another shows up instantly when one fake profile gets taken down.
Do Other Social Media Platforms Have Fake Profiles?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes! In many instances, everyone from name-brand companies to your neighbor next door is being hacked. In 2021 it was estimated that more than 1,000,000,000 fake accounts were taken down across multiple social media sites.
Fake social media profiles and accounts are merely a setup to scam unsuspecting victims for their information, money or both. Furthermore, it is not illegal to create a fake account.
But, once you discover a fake Linkedin profile, you can report it by simply following the process below in your account:
- Click the More icon on the member’s profile.
- Click Report or block.
- Select Report content on the profile in the What do you want to do? pop-up window.
- Select Profile information in the What content on this profile are you reporting? pop-up window.
- Select Suspicious or fake in the Why are you reporting the profile information on this profile? pop-up window.
- Select Fake account in the How is this suspicious, spam, or fake? pop-up window.
- Click Submit to proceed or Back to review your options. [1]
Alvarez Technology Group Helps You Avoid Fake Accounts
LinkedIn, an effective networking system, has blown up in development over the past couple of years. With its rapid expansion, LinkedIn, like all social media platforms, has experienced the ongoing issue of phony accounts.
To protect yourself and your information from fake Linkedin accounts, Alvarez Technology Group recommends always using caution before connecting. Contact us today or call Toll Free 1-866-78-iTeam to discover more data protection steps when networking online.
[1] https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/61664/report-fake-profiles?lang=en
