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LinkedIn Scams: Fake Recruiters and Fake Jobs

Job hunting puts you in a trusting mindset — exactly what scammers exploit. Here are the scenarios actually used in 2025-2026, and how to verify an offer before replying.

Recent figures

  • Reported losses from job scams tripled between 2020 and 2023, and had already surpassed $220 million in the first half of 2024 alone.
  • So-called "task" job scams (liking content, rating products, clicking to get paid) made up nearly 40% of job scam reports in 2024.
  • Losses paid in cryptocurrency in these fake jobs reached $41 million in six months, nearly double the whole previous year.
  • Consumer protection groups saw job-scam reports double in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Sources: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Better Business Bureau (BBB Scam Tracker, 2023-2025).

The 4 fake recruiter scenarios

1. The "task" job paid in crypto

You're offered simple work: rating hotels, liking videos, confirming orders. The first small payouts are real, to build trust. Then you need to "top up" your account with your own money to unlock the next tasks. This is the most common scenario today, and the money paid in is never recoverable.

2. A fake recruiter from a real company

The scammer uses the name and logo of an existing company. The job is remote, well paid, and the interview is limited to a written chat on WhatsApp or Telegram. The end goal: "equipment fees" to advance, or your ID documents.

3. The fake check / fake equipment transfer

The company "advances" you money to buy a computer from a specific supplier. The transfer is later reversed, or the check bounces — but you've already paid the supplier, who is the scammer.

4. The money mule

"Transaction agent": money arrives in your account, you keep a commission and forward the rest. This is money laundering. The victim becomes legally liable, with a closed bank account and possible prosecution.

Real messages, word for word

  • "Hello, your profile caught our attention. Fully remote job, $2,700/month, 2 hours a day."
  • "Please continue the conversation on Telegram with our HR manager."
  • "You're hired! Just complete the mandatory training for $150, reimbursed with your first paycheck."
  • "Send a photo of your ID and your bank details to prepare the contract."
  • "We're transferring you $1,300: buy the equipment from our supplier and keep the difference."

Checking a recruiter in 3 steps

  1. Look for the job posting on the company's official website. If it isn't listed there, call the switchboard number listed on that site (never the one given in the message).
  2. Check the email address: a real recruiter writes from @company.com, not a free address or a slightly altered domain.
  3. Open the recruiter's profile: creation date, posting history, mutual connections. A brand-new profile with no activity should raise a flag.

A hard rule: a legitimate employer never asks a candidate for money, whether for training, equipment, or a visa.

Warning signs

  • The recruiter writes from a free email address (gmail, outlook) instead of the company's domain.
  • The interview happens entirely in writing, over WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord, never on video.
  • The advertised salary is well above market rate for a job requiring "no experience".
  • You're hired within hours, with no real assessment of your skills.
  • You're asked to pay: training, software, equipment, visa, "processing fees".
  • You're asked very early for an ID document, bank details, or a social security number.
  • You're offered money to receive on your account and forward elsewhere (this is money laundering).
  • The recruiter's profile is recent, with few connections and no activity.

What to do

  1. Never pay anything, for any reason, before signing a real, verified contract.
  2. Refuse any interview that's only in writing: ask for a video call with the camera on.
  3. Don't send an ID document or bank details before confirming the company through an official channel.
  4. Never agree to receive money in order to forward it elsewhere.
  5. Report the profile on LinkedIn (Report → Scam) and notify the real company being impersonated.
  6. If you've already paid, contact your bank the same day and file a police report with screenshots.

Frequently asked questions

They already paid me once, so it must be genuine?

No. Those small initial payouts are part of the scenario: they cost the scammer little and push you toward investing much larger amounts later.

Can a "paid training" ever be legitimate?

For a salaried position, no. An employer funds its employees' training — it doesn't bill candidates for it before hiring.

I sent a copy of my ID, what should I do?

Watch for any account or credit opened in your name, alert your bank, and file a police report: this document can be used for identity theft.

Does a job offer seem too good to be true?

Paste the message into our tool, choose the "LinkedIn" channel, and get a verdict in seconds.

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See also: Email Scams · Instagram Scams