Scammers are relentless. Phishing emails fill out inboxes, text messages with suspicious links are becoming more popular, and even using LinkedIn to grow a professional network is becoming more of a risk.
With over 1 billion registered users, LinkedIn is one of the companies that we see at our cybersecurity firm in Miami being targeted by hackers more often. Phishing scams on the site are more sophisticated, and if you drop your guard, an innocent interaction can cause you to fall victim to a scam.
Phishing Scams
One of the most common types of scams are phishing scams. You may receive emails from what looks like the @linkedin.com domain, but it’s a spoofed email account. The sender may use simple subject lines, such as:
- Account Suspended
- You have a new message
If the hacker uses the same branding and recreates the email template LinkedIn uses, it’s easy for an unsuspecting victim to click on a button or link that they assume will bring them back to the official LinkedIn website.
You should never open these types of emails.
Instead, navigate to the official LinkedIn website or app and log in. If your account is suspended or if someone sent you a message, you’ll know momentarily.
Employment Scams
Unfortunately, employment scams are on the rise and it’s an easy trap to fall int,o even for the most security-minded person. You may see a job offer on the site from a company that is legitimate.
A fake recruiter contacts you, asking about your interest in the position. After some back and forth, you’re excited that you seem like a good fit for the position.
But then a background check is required, so you’ll need to give your:
- Social Security number
- Personal details
You might even be asked to pay for a background check on certain websites or to run a credit report and supply it to the company. Often, the site that you’re directed to will look legitimate, but what happens is that the site is gathering your personal data.
With unemployment being a time of desperation, it’s easy to get excited about a potential job offer and fall into one of these scams.
Message Scams
If someone connects with you on LinkedIn, there’s a chance that they’ll send you a message. Deepening relationships on LinkedIn is common and often a way to network with people who may be your next manager or coworker.
But there are also message scams that may be used to collect data on you.
Messages can also include:
- Tech support scams that people fall for all the time.
- Fake job offer scams that are more direct and lead you to malicious websites.
Social media is about networking, and while LinkedIn is arguably the best social network for professionals to connect, it’s also a breeding ground for scammers. Remain diligent when using the site and if you receive a job offer that’s too good to be true, scrutinize it.
Do you need a security checkup or audit?
Call our cybersecurity company in Miami to learn how we can help.