A recent report from Check Point Research revealed a startling statistic—LinkedIn is impersonated in nearly half of all phishing attacks globally.

How Scammers Exploit LinkedIn

One common tactic is targeting job seekers. Emails like "You have 1 new invitation" or "Your profile has been viewed by 63 people" may seem authentic, but always verify the sender’s email address to ensure it's genuinely from LinkedIn. Scammers send identical-looking emails with links to fake LinkedIn pages that steal your information once entered.

Another tactic involves creating fake profiles to message users about job opportunities. Once engaged, scammers may ask for a small upfront payment to process the application (which you'll never see again) or direct you to a phishing link disguised as a form.

LinkedIn's Security Features

LinkedIn is actively working to protect its users and has implemented several security features:

  1. Suspicious Message Warnings: LinkedIn's technology detects potentially harmful messages and sends warning notifications.
  2. Profile Verification: Users can verify their profiles by submitting additional ID, earning a verification badge to signify authenticity. This is crucial as scammers frequently create new, unverified profiles.
  3. Profile Information: Users can access detailed profile information to assess the trustworthiness of messages, connection requests, or offers. By clicking "More" and selecting "About this profile," you can see:
    • When the profile was created
    • When the profile was last updated
    • Whether the member has verified a phone number
    • Whether the member has a work email associated with their account
  4. AI-Generated Profile Picture Detection: Scammers often use AI to create realistic-looking profile pictures for fake profiles. LinkedIn has partnered with academia to develop advanced detection features to identify and remove these profiles.

Stay Secure on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a valuable resource for finding jobs, employees, and clients, but it's essential to stay vigilant. While LinkedIn's features are a great first line of defense, they aren't foolproof. If someone in your organization falls for a scam, would your internal security solutions be robust enough to protect your network?

We can help you find out. We offer a FREE Security Risk Assessment to determine if your network is vulnerable to any type of attack. To book yours, call us at 630-320-3723 or click here to book your call.