LinkedIn being a social media platform geared towards professionals does not necessarily make it safer in regard to scams. It may even make people more vulnerable or more likely to fall for them.
Here is a list of the most common scams seen on LinkedIn according to an article on makeuseof.com:
1. Catfishers
“Catfishing is not a phenomenon exclusively for tricking people into dates. Scammers impersonate people online to trick others into revealing private information or handing over their hard-earned money, or just because the other person wants to be cruel.”
2. Phishing Scams
“When you find a job, they do need to know a lot of your personal information. It's not uncommon for a contract to require data like your banking details or social security number.
This fact doesn't mean you should hand such information out to just anyone during an application process.
Some scammers use LinkedIn to find phishing victims whereby they attempt to get targets to hand over their personal information through deception.
For example, a scammer may tell you they are a recruiter from a top company and found your profile promising and urge you to apply. However, instead of directing you to the actual company site, they send you to a fake site the prompts you to hand over information.”
3. Fake Job Offers
“Some scammers take it a step further, and instead of offering job opportunities, they offer you jobs. Sometimes, these jobs seem too good to be true—and that's because they are.
Never fall for the old trick of giving over your data to secure a position you never applied for.
Sometimes, scammers don't have any use for your information. Many online freelancers fall for an online ploy where people trick you into providing a service and then ghost the user once they receive it without paying for it.”
4. Fake “Technical” Issues
“If LinkedIn has any problems with your account, they will not reach out to you through some random profile. Other sites will also not use LinkedIn as a platform to contact you in case you have technical issues.
When someone claims they need your information in one of these messages, report them immediately. They are likely trying to trick you. These scams may even happen beyond the platform.
LinkedIn is an established and successful company. They can afford their own email domain and won't reach out to you through a ‘customer service email’ with a Hotmail or Gmail account.”
5. Malicious Software
“When receiving any message from a stranger, be wary of any files they may try to convince you to download. Sure, it's not uncommon for people to send Word documents, PDFs, or website links, but make sure you have some virus protection on your computer that'll check for malicious downloads.
Do not click on anything suspicious or unsolicited.”