Looking for a job is an arduous task that requires a lot of patience to go from one job offer to another and fill out endless forms.
Platforms like
seek to alleviate this task since, on the one hand, they facilitate the process of
job seekers
by keeping them informed of new offers.
And on the other, recruiters
are
favored by the task of finding the best candidates.
However, being an immersive process, many people can
fall victim to scams while looking for a job
.
“While all
social media platforms can be a vehicle for fraud
, one thing that makes LinkedIn special is its
public perception as a safe
, professional environment.
Phishing scams continue to increase and, in fact, have skyrocketed in recent months," warned
Camilo Gutiérrez Amaya
, Head of the ESET Latin America Research Laboratory.
Meanwhile, he stressed that while some scammers can be very successful
with very simple and old tricks
, such as asking for your bank details or advance payments in exchange for a seemingly legitimate job interview,
others can be much more sophisticated
.
When looking for jobs on LinkedIn, many people can fall victim to scams.
Photo Shutterstock.
What are the most common scams done in the name of LinkedIn?
ESET shares some examples of the most common scams that take advantage of LinkedIn:
1. Fake notifications
Notification emails
became
a regular presence in inboxes.
Social platforms are well aware of the impact of these notifications and use attractive subject
lines
, such as “You appeared in 3 searches this week” and “Congrats John on his new job”, to
generate curiosity
and the
desire to log
into the social networks .
accounts and spend more time on the platform.
However, cybercriminals have also caught on and use similar wording and aesthetics to generate
phishing emails
much like the ones that arrive in inboxes but are
designed to steal LinkedIn login credentials
or download malware. on the devices.
Once you click on the link included in this fake email, you are redirected to a page that asks you to enter your login credentials.
Seconds later,
the offender will have been inadvertently given the LinkedIn
username and password .
2. Fake job offers
Another way they steal login credentials is through supposedly
high-paying “job offers”
that require only a direct message to apply.
When arriving unexpectedly, it can be tempting to ask for more information.
This will lead the
fake recruiter
to respond with a message in which they can
request payment of a fee in advance
, possibly for training, or ask the data subject to submit their personal information through, for example, a Google form.
Although it sounds a bit strange, the victim may think that there is nothing to lose.
These offers often ask for additional personal information in the first message, such as name, age, residence, and contact details.
"In these situations, we
always recommend confirming that the company you are applying for really exists
and doing a quick search on Google to verify it," advised the ESET specialist.
"And just like we put a lot of effort into crafting and submitting a good resume, employers tend to pay attention to the job description they post, so if you notice grammatical errors or any conflicting information
in
these
job
communications , it may be a hoax," he added.
In addition, he stressed that
no company is going to offer you money or ask for your bank details
in the first contact.
But the scope of a fake job offer can go beyond stealing money or credentials from the victim.
Sophisticated spy groups used fake job postings on LinkedIn to compromise an organization,
trick insiders
, and ultimately convince them to download a
malware-infected file
.
A simple Google search can confirm that the company you are applying to actually exists.
Photo: File.
3. Ponzi schemes
Ponzi schemes have also found a place on LinkedIn and can manifest in a variety of ways.
For example, a known case is that of an
apparently well-educated and legitimate financial advisor
being contacted via direct message.
It often offers an
attractive investment program that promises easy money
, something of interest to anyone in financial straits or those who are confident that they will strike it rich in the field of cryptocurrencies.
Proposals like these are often
“too good to be true”
, and usually the direct message sent via LinkedIn is accompanied by a link to a well-crafted page that supports the proposal and includes many reviews of new millionaires telling their story. .
It only takes a few clicks and an
initial investment
to join , the scammers explain.
And to make it appear safe and trustworthy, all transactions are done within the same website.
But once
the transfer is made, the money is lost
.
“
Anyone can be a victim of a scam
, regardless of the amount of information to which we have access.
Being aware of this is, in fact, the first step in staying safe from scammers, whether on LinkedIn or elsewhere," said ESET's Gutiérrez Amaya.
Despite the fact that LinkedIn appears to be a serious and safe network, they advise to be cautious as with any other social networking platform.
Photo: File
Fake job offers on LinkedIn: the signs that help you identify them
ESET shared some
important rules to follow
to avoid falling victim to scams on the social network for business and employment:
.
Be cautious on LinkedIn
, just like you would be on any other social media platform.
.
If you receive an
email that appears to be from LinkedIn, but you're not sure
if it's legitimate or not, don't click on any links.
Instead, log in to LinkedIn from the official page and check the notifications.
.
Be wary of contact requests
from people you don't know.
If a stranger contacts you, don't click on any links.
Do a Google search first to find out more about the employer and how reliable that connection is.
Ask yourself “how did this person find me?
Why are you contacting me?"
.
Make sure your
LinkedIn account privacy settings
only show necessary information to people who aren't part of your contacts.
For example, you may want others to see your work experience and education, but not necessarily your phone number.
.
Use a strong and unique password
or passphrase
.
. Activate two-step verification
, also known as two-factor authentication or 2FA.
This will be useful in the event that someone else obtains the login credentials, as it will make it much more difficult for the attacker to gain access to the account for more than that information.
. Never provide personal information
such as ID number or credit cards.
Potential employers do not ask for bank details or deposit salary using login credentials.
.
Keep in mind that
actual job offers comply with country and tax laws
.
Easy money tends to be a scam.
.
Beware of
unsolicited offers for financial services or investments
through unknown connections.
Today, virtually anyone can set up a website that looks attractive and trustworthy.
.
Simply put, if something sounds
too good to be true
, it most likely is (a scam).
.
And if, despite being careful, you fall into the trap and are the victim of fraud (because it can happen to anyone), always report it to LinkedIn.
LN
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