Social Media

Is This LinkedIn Email a Scam? How to Tell

LinkedIn scams target professionals with fake job offers, recruiter impersonation, and phishing emails about connection requests or InMail messages designed to steal credentials.

Think you've received a scam?

Paste a suspicious message, email, or URL into our free AI-powered scanner for instant analysis.

Scan Now — It's Free

Common LinkedIn Scam Types

Fake job offer scams

Recruiter impersonation

Connection request phishing

LinkedIn Premium phishing

Business proposal scams

Example Scam Messages

These are examples of fake messages impersonating LinkedIn. Never click links in unsolicited messages.

“LinkedIn: You appeared in 47 searches this week. See who viewed your profile at linkedin-views.com”

“Hi, I am a recruiter at Google and would like to discuss a Senior Developer position. Please share your resume and SSN for the background check.”

Red Flags to Watch For

Job offers that require upfront payment or fees
Recruiters asking for SSN or bank details early in the process
Profile view notifications from non-linkedin.com domains
Business proposals from new connections promising high returns

Real vs. Fake LinkedIn — Side by Side

Signal	Real LinkedIn	Fake / Scam
Recruiter email domain	Matches the company — e.g. @google.com for a Google recruiter.	Gmail, Outlook, or unrelated corporate domain; or a LinkedIn DM only.
What they ask for up front	Resume and scheduling — SSN and bank info come only after a signed offer and through the company's HR portal.	Asks for SSN, passport, or bank details before any interview.
Interview process	Live video or phone interviews with identifiable employees.	Text-only or Telegram/WhatsApp "interview," sudden offer, pressure to start immediately.
Equipment / onboarding payment	Employer ships equipment at no cost to you.	You are asked to deposit a check and wire back "for equipment" or pay a fee.

Legitimate LinkedIn Contact Info

Visit linkedin.com/help for support. Legitimate recruiters will never ask for SSN or payment before a formal offer. Apply for jobs through linkedin.com.