Fake job postings have been around for years on job boards and other platforms like LinkedIn, where jobs are frequently posted. But back in the day, it was much easier to tell the difference between a real job and a fake job. Today is a little different thanks to AI technology. Yes, AI strikes again! AI is making it easier for scammers to realistically impersonate people and companies, making job offers seem much more legit.
Often, these scammers pretend to represent hiring managers or recruiters from companies that actually do have job openings posted on LinkedIn or other recruiting sites. Many of these scammers will contact victims via direct messaging on the platform which is typically how legitimate recruiters will try and make contact. People who are falling for this scam are of course being directed to fake websites where they are instructed to enter personal information such as their social security number, bank details, and identification.
Some common red flags associated with these job offers is that the job candidate (or victim) may be asked to enter their credit card to pay for things like training, background checks, or equipment, with promises for reimbursement. Legitimate employers will not ask you to make any upfront purchases!
If you happen to get a random job application invitation through direct messaging, or even by text or email, telling you that based on your qualifications, you may be the perfect job candidate for an open position, proceed with caution. Especially if the job seems too good to be true, or the message stresses urgency to act. Don’t automatically assume it’s a scam, because real recruiters may indeed reach out if they think you are a good candidate for their job opening.
Do some research first by looking up the person who is sending you the message on the platform. See if their profile is legit by looking at how many followers they have, and if they are actually associated with the company page that they say they work for. Visit the company’s ‘open jobs’ page on their website using Google or another search engine (do not click on any links that you may have been sent to get there). If you see the job in question posted, you can apply via the company website or reach out to the recruiter or hiring manager from there. Please note however, that sometimes companies do post jobs on LinkedIn and other platforms that they have not yet posted to their website. If the job in question is not posted, you can reach out to the company via their official method of contact as listed on their website. You should also check the company’s business page on LinkedIn and see if they posted anything about the job there.
If you do happen to encounter what you believe to be a fake job offer on LinkedIn, report it to LinkedIn and to the company being impersonated.
