We all get bombarded by scammers and it’s a wearing experience having to be on your guard all the time to prevent that one slip the fraudsters are banking on to invade your life and steal your money, assets or identity.
The warnings are out there over bank accounts, the loss of personal information and data, Facebook, email, texting and phone fraud, but are you aware of the growing menace of fake LinkedIn sales?
Increasing threat
LinkedIn is a great platform for professional people looking to develop business opportunities by making those all-important contacts so vital to the ongoing success of a company. But as LinkedIn’s popularity has grown, so too has the threat of fake LinkedIn sales bots - a method of attack that assumes the identity of real users in a bid to scam unsuspecting individuals.
These bots are just one of the ways that fraudsters are seeking out vulnerable targets on LinkedIn and today we hope to help you identify potential scams, enabling you to stay safe and secure as you navigate the platform.
Making connections
To do business you first of all have to make a connection and scammers are fully aware of this, so don’t accept a connection request without first checking out a person’s profile as far as you can.
The desire to accept a new business proposition can cloud our judgement and it is a fact that we are more likely to trust what we perceive to be the credentials of other professionals. It is also true that we are more likely to accept LinkedIn profiles than we are, for example, those on Facebook.
Spotting the signs
There are ways to identify fake LinkedIn sales bots:1. A sketchy profile lacking detail should set alarm bells ringing. A real profile is designed to foster credibility and trust so usually comes with a substantial amount of information.
A scam may also be short on educational detail and employment history and use only generic information, stock pictures or other images - all tell-tale signs that things are not what they should be.2. Messaging may be off - Scams will often lack any personal feel and make no reference to your profile or the sector in which you are working. This is because the message may be scripted or templated and sent out en masse to target as many people as possible.
Genuine LinkedIn users will normally tailor messages to specific individuals. This could refer to recent posts, industry-related themes and any shared connections. If in doubt, exercise caution and try to establish the authenticity of the contact.3. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be sceptical about over-the-top promotional content, persistent and aggressive messaging and unrealistic claims accompanied by little information or detail. Genuine contacts are keen to create positive discussion and provide insights into what they do in a bid to build meaningful relationships.
Be cautious
Beware of the unfamiliar contacts. Fake sales bots are sent out randomly so if you receive a request from a contact with no obvious professional connection, treat it with caution. Review the content and their mutual connections and go no further if in any doubt. Genuine users will typically send requests to those with shared interests or professional networks.
Poor grammar and spelling can be a good sign of a fake LinkedIn sales bot. Most people will have a high regard for their professional image and be very careful about checking spelling and grammar before pushing the send button to a new contact. It is after all the first point of contact that will hopefully lead to a fruitful business partnership.
Scammers clearly feel no such need so a slap-dash contact with grammatical errors is usually a good sign of fraudulent activity.
Think you just got one of those messages on any platform?
If you think you got any type of Phishing or Scam Messages on any social media or e-mail platform and you need assistance, our team of experts is available to help you out.JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJzbGlkZUJ1dHRvbiUyMiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyc2lkZS1idXR0b24lMjIlM0VHZXQlMjBJbiUyMFRvdWNoJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNF
