Although fraudsters are generally believed to operate on social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, LinkedIn is also fertile ground for harvesting people’s personal data. According to Viktor Tkachenko, Head of AML & Security at Citadele Bank, it is important to be cautious when applying for a job.
‘Often, in addition to calls and SMS messages, fraudsters use channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In fact, fraudsters are also active on LinkedIn,’ Tkachenko said. Fraudsters can impersonate both individuals and organisations on LinkedIn. ‘The professional environment and the trust placed in the social media platform help fraudsters to operate on LinkedIn. People may not be as vigilant as they are, for example, in phone conversations or on other social media channels,’ Tkachenko said.
Job offers and investment fraud
Fraud on LinkedIn is similar in form and content to that found on other social media channels. Similar precautions also apply on LinkedIn.
For example, you can find job offers on the platform where an unexpectedly high salary is offered for simple teleworking, as well as information about investment opportunities which aim to obtain money from people. According to data from the Police and Border Guard Board, people were defrauded of EUR 782,645 through investment scams in May alone. ‘Fake job offers are the most common form of fraud on LinkedIn. The purpose of these job offers is to obtain people’s personal information and money,’ said Tkachenko. ‘Some of these offers are for real jobs, but they involve transferring money on behalf of someone else, or being a money mule. However, participating in money laundering schemes is a criminal offence. Unfortunately, many young people in Estonia have been punished for this’.
To identify a fake job offer, check the alleged employer and consider whether what is being asked for or offered is realistic. ‘If the employer only has a few posts and followers on its profile, this could be a red flag. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is,’ said Tkachenko. Alarm bells should also sound when personal information, such as bank details or a personal identification code, is requested very early in the job application process. ‘Fraudsters try to create a sense of urgency, making it seem as though you need to act now, or a good opportunity might slip away,’ added Tkachenko.
If you suspect that you are a victim of fraud on LinkedIn, please inform the police. If you have also shared your bank details with fraudsters, contact your bank’s customer support immediately.
Here is a simple checklist for identifying suspicious job advertisements:
- Check the employer’s official website and compare the information with the LinkedIn profile.
- Check if the employer’s email address matches the company’s domain (e.g. not @gmail.com).
- Use Google to search for any suspicious content (e.g. ‘company name + scam’ or ‘company name + fraud’).
- Never pay to apply for a job or give out your bank account passwords or PINs.