LinkedIn scam message examples
Example scam messages
An InMail from a 'senior talent partner': 'Congratulations, you have been pre-approved for a remote data-entry role paying $1,500 a week. To lock in your start date, pay the refundable $180 equipment deposit by bank transfer today and message me on WhatsApp to onboard.'
What gives it away:
- A 'refundable deposit' is a payment before any work begins; being asked to pay for anything to complete a recruitment process is a reason to stop and check the company independently
- An unexpected offer of high pay for little work matches LinkedIn's description of job scams: people pretending to be recruiters or employers offering high-paying jobs for little work
- LinkedIn lists urgent requests to move off-platform, for example to WhatsApp or Telegram, as a warning sign
Subject: You have a pending connection request from a hiring manager. View the request at linkedin-invites[.]example before it expires tonight and unlock the attached role description.
What gives it away:
- The link goes to a lookalike address rather than somewhere you reached by opening LinkedIn yourself; a sender address or link text that looks official isn't proof
- A deadline of 'tonight' is an urgency tactic; the useful check is whether the request is waiting in your LinkedIn inbox when you open the app yourself
- Opening the LinkedIn app, or typing linkedin.com into your browser yourself, shows whether a request is actually waiting for you
How to check a message you've received
Never tap a link in an unexpected message. Instead, paste the text into the free message checker for an instant verdict, or check a suspicious link with the link & website checker. To verify directly, contact LinkedIn through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this LinkedIn message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of LinkedIn impersonation scams — illustrations modelled on common scam patterns, not genuine LinkedIn messages. To judge a specific message you've received, paste it into the free Scam Scanner checker for an instant verdict, or verify it directly through LinkedIn's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake LinkedIn message from a genuine one?
LinkedIn says legitimate companies should not require transfers, checks, gift cards or the wiring of funds as a condition of the application process. The examples below break down the tells that give a fake away — unexpected links, urgency, and requests for payment or details. If anything asks you to click a link or hand over information, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it independently.
What should I do if I already clicked a link or paid?
Act quickly: contact your bank, then follow the step-by-step recovery guide at /what-to-do. It walks you through who to contact — your bank, IDCARE and the right reporting channel — in the order that matters most.