LinkedIn Job Offer Scam

Linkedin Job Offer Scam: How It Works

Recruiting on Linkedin is a two-edged sword as the website becomes more popular. The LinkedIn job posting cost is not cheap but has become effective. Unfortunately, some issues come with it, especially now that many people are at home after the pandemic and trying to change their resumes to look good online. So, be careful whether you are in the United States, Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom. Here is how one of the most prevalent LinkedIn scams work, below.

You’ll get a very tempting offer on LinkedIn scam. Check out the screenshot below to see a real LinkedIn message received – I will analyze and dissect for you.

linkedin job offer scam

How real is it? Let me expose it.

Hiring scams are so prevalent nowadays that most people start recognizing them as they pop up in our newsfeeds on Facebook or Instagram. It’s not the same thing we could say about widespread fraudulent practices via more serious mediums — such as LinkedIn — where people log in with a business mindset. One of the latest traps coming this way is the LinkedIn Job Offer Scam, a.k .a. the Recruiting on LinkedIn Hook. Let’s take a close look at it.

We all need contacts and good connections to improve our jobs or businesses. Unsurprisingly, we are requested to ‘connect’ on LinkedIn with individual “movers and shakers.”

We often click “Accept,” not entirely knowing the other person, but rather when we see the name of their employer or business. Big brand names and pompous titles – these connections can provide valuable insights and opportunities and broaden your professional network. Getting a little up close and personal doesn’t hurt.

You may have received many requests lately to connect on LinkedIn from representatives of various businesses worldwide.

You might not know these people, and it is OK not to accept them. But what if the person requesting your approval lives in your city, holds a decision-making position with a great company, and, above all, has many connections in common with you? LinkedIn has measures to protect your privacy, and you can always control what information you share. We know you’ll accept it.

recruiting on linkedin

Recently, one of our team members at Scam Detector received a connection request just like that. You saw it in the first screenshot of this article. The job position held by the requester was “Consultant,” but her previous job was “Recruiting Manager” at a public accounting & financing recruiting specialist company. She had six common connections, and her resume looked trustworthy and legitimate. Last but not least, she had a bunch of endorsements from her contacts.

Little did we know that scammers hacked into her LinkedIn profile and sent the same absolute message to all her connections. They picked the perfect profile: an older business person, experienced, with many endorsements, and a recruiting job.

As mentioned, a couple of days after connecting, “Donna” sent this private message (see the image), with the subject title “Job Opportunity”:

“My sincere apologies for this unannounced approach. I am Donna [last name], a Public Relations Officer with Acer Inc. This is a reach out to you – that Acer Inc. needs a financial coordinator here. This is a part-time job offer, so you can earn extra income while doing your regular job/business. If interested in this position, kindly reply to the recruiter agent Mr. Kengean Tan (email address), for more info.

Best Regards, Donna.”

linkedin job posting cost

As this message came from a reliable connection but had a certain amount of weirdness, our team member replied, asking for more details. He got a response within 5 seconds – an automated message saying, “Please connect with Kengean Tan for more details ASAP.” Our employee decided to play some more and sent a message to Kengean. This is what he got back:

“Dear (name),

“Your email was received, and we appreciate your correspondence. I represent Acer Incorporated a Taiwanese multinational electronics manufacturer. Our company owns the largest franchised computer retail chain in Taipei, Taiwan. Acer is the third largest computer manufacturer in the world (by sales) after HP and Dell Inc. and its product lineup includes desktops and laptops, as well as personal digital assistants (PDAs), servers and storage, displays, peripherals, and e-business services for business, government, education, and home users.”

“We are in need of representatives in different regions in Canada, due to the challenges in processing payments here in Taiwan from our customers/clients, it’s been proven that customers/clients especially debtors respond to debt owned when means of remittance is available within the confine of their region. We need you as close contact between us and our customers/clients in your area when assigned as one of the company representatives.”

“DETAILS OF FUNCTION: Maintain effective communications with management of Acer. Establishes, develops, and maintains business relationships with current customers and prospective customers in the assigned territory. Secure orders from existing and prospective customers through a relationship-based approach and maintain proper records of transactions & receive and process payment from customers Also, this is a part-time job, you will be earning extra income while doing your normal Job/Business.”

“QUALIFICATIONS: Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be results-orientated and must be willing to work as required. Note that you are entitled to 10% of every payment processed through you, and you would be placed on a monthly salary of $2,000.00 to $7,000.00 based on agreement.”

“If interested in this position, do email us, requesting our fill-able application form, and it will be made available to you.”

“For more information, please visit our website. Sincerely, Kengean Tan –  Acer Taiwan Inc.”

Our employee pretended to be interested and continued the conversation, asking for details about how the job works. Kengean replied: “You will be taking orders from our customers in Canada and forwarding them to us; also, they will be making payments through you to us. You will be entitled to a 10% commission on each completed transaction plus a $2,200.00 monthly allowance. If interested, let us know and fill out this form (form attached).

Perfect, easy money! Our team member was interested. He filled out the form with fake credentials and sent it over. As soon as the email went through, he got a Delivery Status Notification that Kengean’s email address ([email protected]) was not active anymore.

looking for a job post on linkedin

However, we wanted to know the secret of taking orders from our customers and forwarding them to us; also, they will make payments through you. We decided to dig deeper. After extensive research, we found out how the scam works:

Their customers in your country are the scammers themselves. They tell you what products they want to order and will pay you with checks. The moment you receive the check, you are required by the Kengeans of the Internet to keep your 10% commission and send the 90% to the company right away.

For example, if the “customers” would order and send you a check for $1,000, you would deposit the check and wire $900 to the company immediately. You don’t know that the check will bounce in a few business days, and you will be $900 poorer.

Watch the video below to see other LinkedIn Job Offer scams exposed:

Recruiting on LinkedIn Scam: How to Avoid

As soon as victims report them, scammers change the names they use and their email addresses. Learn how the scam works, not the names of the real people they take advantage of. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

If they hack into somebody’s profile, make sure you check with that person for the integrity of the message in other ways, not through the LinkedIn profile. Sometimes, even the profiles are fake, not necessarily hacked into. Look for familiar friends, find them, and ask if they received the same offer.

Look for the email addresses the scammers use. If they claim they work for a significant company, the email should not come from a Hotmail or Yahoo address. This is worth checking it out, primarily since sometimes scammers use real names and impersonate real people, but they use a different email address.

LinkedIn Job Offer Scam: How To Report

Warn your family and friends about the LinkedIn Job Offer Scam. Sharing this article on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to both LinkedIn and the authorities using the links below:

Report To The LinkedIn Here
Report To The FTC
Submit Claim To The Office of the Inspector General
Report To The FBI Internet Complaints Center

How To Prevent Identity Theft and More

If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You’ll receive periodic emails – we promise not to spam.

Meanwhile, educate yourself with some other fraud-related articles right under this paragraph, so that you can protect yourself in many other aspects and niches. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.

Here are some must-reads for the end:

Regional Sales Representative Scam

Administrative Assistant Job Scam

Walmart Job Opportunity Scam

PayPal Money Generator Scam


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Selma HrynchukSelma is a fraud prevention specialist renowned for her expertise in private eye investigations and a remarkable partnership with law enforcement agencies. Beyond her investigative triumphs, her public speaking engagements and written works have empowered countless individuals to protect themselves and stay ahead of deceptive schemes. Selma's legacy shines as a tenacious agent of change, unyielding in her commitment to battling fraud and ensuring a safer world for all.

17 thoughts on “LinkedIn Job Offer Scam”

  1. A good friend of mine who was looking for a job was scammed and her identity has been compromised! These people locked her out of her PC, email accounts and even accessed financial accounts and her Apple ID. It has been a grueling and time consuming process to get her information back and protected. It has also been a learning experience for us both. He didn’t just compromise her info, but because we are connected, he has also compromised my phone as well. The ic3.gov paperwork has been submitted and according to the Feds we’ve been talking to, they are on to this guy! Stay away from Mike Cemeno, Mike Cemeno Farmers insurance, Mike Cemeno Virtual Assistant job!

  2. Theodore Mangano

    January 20, 2019

    I’m a painting contractor in San Diego, CA. I recently got a text from a guy who who said he had found my painting ad on Yelp. He had just purchased a house in San Diego and was looking to get the three bedrooms and two bathrooms painted because he didn’t like the colors. He needed it done imediately because he and his family would be moving from Fresno to San Diego in a couple weeks. He gave the exact specifications of the job, the address of the house, and asked me to send a quote to his e-mail address.

    It seemed legit at first. I’ve quoted several jobs over the years for customers who were moving in from out of town. So I wrote up an estimate and sent it to him, along with a few questions about certain details that might have a bearing on the final cost, i.e. accent walls, ceiling paint, etc.

    His return e-mail is what made me suspicious. He said the quote looked great and that he would hire me for the job. And he was willing to pay a 50% deposit. Here’s the kicker, he had already ordered the paint, a special brand that had to be shipped from N.Carolina, but it couldn’t be delivered until it was paid for. So, he said, He would send me a check to cover my deposit and the paint. I was to deposit the check in my account, deduct my deposit, and forward the reaming money via wire transfer to the paint dealer. And this guy has never even met me.

    Red light!

    I decided to drive out to look at the house to see if it even existed. Sure enough, there it was, vacant, and exactly as he had drescribed. But, there was a for sale sign out front. That’s when it all fell into place. This guy had done his homework . I decided to keep playing with the guy while I reported him to the authorities. That’s how I came across this site. As of right now, I’m expecting the bunk check to arrive in the mail, via "Fed-ex overnite express," his words. I have been unable to report this to the feds because of the government shut down. So I’ll just have to report it to the local authorities and hope someone there can tell me what to do next’
    anuary 20, 2019

    I’m a painting contractor in San Diego, CA. I recently got a text from a guy who who said he had found my painting ad on Yelp. He had just purchased a house in San Diego and was looking to get the three bedrooms and two bathrooms painted because he didn’t like the colors. He needed it done imediately because he and his family would be moving from Fresno to San Diego in a couple weeks. He gave the exact specifications of the job, the address of the house, and asked me to send a quote to his e-mail address.

    It seemed legit at first. I’ve quoted several jobs over the years for customers who were moving in from out of town. So I wrote up an estimate and sent it to him, along with a few questions about certain details that might have a bearing on the final cost, i.e. accent walls, ceiling paint, etc.

    His return e-mail is what made me suspicious. He said the quote looked great and that he would hire me for the job. And he was willing to pay a 50% deposit. Here’s the kicker, he had already ordered the paint, a special brand that had to be shipped from N.Carolina, but it couldn’t be delivered until it was paid for. So, he said, He would send me a check to cover my deposit and the paint. I was to deposit the check in my account, deduct my deposit, and forward the reaming money via wire transfer to the paint dealer. And this guy has never even met me.

    Red light!

    I decided to drive out to look at the house to see if it even existed. Sure enough, there it was, vacant, and exactly as he had drescribed. But, there was a for sale sign out front. That’s when it all fell into place. This guy had done his homework . I decided to keep playing with the guy while I reported him to the authorities. That’s how I came across this site. As of right now, I’m expecting the bunk check to arrive in the mail, via "Fed-ex overnite express," his words. I have been unable to report this to the feds because of the government shut down. So I’ll just have to report it to the local authorities and hope someone there can tell me what to do next’

  3. This is the company that I received the offer from A Hongkonger company selling heavy construction machines, with the same great Yenaut Industrial Co Ltd <[email protected]>. they even made a pretty detailed website. Be careful!

  4. I got an invitation today from some lady called Dianne. She says is a programme director based in the UAE. She is extremely good looking but seems to fishy. Anybody else know about her?

  5. This is the 2nd email i received after "playing" with him from [email protected]

    Thank you for your email back to us and indicating your interest in partnering with Acer in your region. In view of your email, we would like to assure you that this does not require you to put in hours of work or making trips.

    Everything will be done through email and phone conversations, so this just needs like 15-30 minutes of any time of your day for receiving and responding to communications from us and our clients.

    You are entitled to 10% commission of each completed transaction Kindly fill the form and email it back to us.

    Names: First Middle Last

    Date of birth:

    sex:

    Full Address:

    Country:

    State:

    City:

    Zip/postal code:

    Occupation:

    Mobile:

    Home :

    Company Name and position if you are the owner indicate.

    We want you to know that you will not travel out of your country and if need be,we will let you but it is a part time work that you earn more,work from home with your computer and phone,as soon as we get the form fill,we shall send it to our customer who will contact you for the release of payment,as time goes on,we will like to establish in your country and you will be the person to see to the affairs of it.

    Sincerely,

    Kengean Tan.

  6. I was also contacted through linkedin…. A guy representing himself from ACER. I played along and he wanted me "collect" on bad debts get paid $4,000 / mth and keep 10% commission. He immediately had me contact a customer in the name of Donna Jenkins from 10th Power (which doesn’t exist anymore, checked on the industry Canada wedsite). He also provided me a copy of an invoice for $118,000. No GST # and no GST/HST charged on the invoice…I knew it was a fake invoice. She contacted me by email before I contacted her. She sent me a check from Mainliner Freightways Limited for $69,000 ! They had inverted the day and month which essentially makes the check VOID. I asked Donna to send me a revised check… I don’t know yet if she/he will. It cost them money to do this. I am wasting his time like he has wasted my time.

    I asked him to send an email from his corporate email account. He tried to fake it. The fake corporate email was inactive after one day…. blamed it on weather in Asia.

    PS. He even had the balls of calling me on my cell…. makes the scam a little more "real"

  7. I just received this scam email from Global GIC-INTL, from a ‘Mark Anderson’:

    "Hello,

    Top of the day to you. I am Mark Anderson, a personnel manager representing GIC Global. We are inquiring about the possibility of you or your company representing us as partners/agent across the US and North America. To act as intermediary between GIC GLOBAL and its customers in North America.

    Benefits:

    – Flexible Schedule
    – Boost your business growth and productivity
    – Connects you with possible customers
    – Attract more customers to your business
    – $5000.00 basic salary monthly
    – 10% commission from every processed operation.

    For more details contact GIC with the below information via email.

    Name:
    Phone #:
    Best time to reach you:

    I do apologize for initiating such a medium of communication between us. This collaboration can function regardless your industry or area of
    specialization. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience so I can send you more information. Thanks and have a wonderful Week. Please
    your response should be sent to ([email protected])

    Have a wonderful day.

    Sincerely,
    Mark Anderson
    GIC GLOBAL-INTL.
    China and UK
    702-5-6 Hangzhou; Zhejiang; 310030
    GIC GLOBAL.
    Effective healthcare distribution

  8. I was contacted by a Jeremy Munson on LinkedIn about a job with Acer. It was with their finance department and they were (apparently) looking for debt collectors and customer relations officers for delinquent accounts.

    Initially he sent me a contact e-mail for a Shun Yoshida at Acer in Tokyo…but it was a standard Outlook.com e-mail address. So I asked him if such a personal e-mail address was legitimate and he then sent me [email protected].

    I sent in my application and lo-and-behold I was hired immediately. I have not yet sent in my signed application form…and I’m probably not going to do that now :-).

  9. Also using "Beijing Shougang Company LTD" as a front.

    I responded yesterday and am waiting on more particulars. It looked like a scam so my friend looked into it for me and found these articles. I think I will go along with it for now and see what answers I get from the company. I will stop short of any information being passed or money transactions.

  10. I also was contacted by this "company"
    … I also am playing along.
    I have requested their legal council in Canada
    N America.
    Im guessing i wont hear back from them.
    Lol

  11. Thomas meisenheimer

    I also was contaced. By linked in account Robert (roy) mcinnes and have received corespondence but jave not given any detaiils to them. [email protected] Was the email that contacted me after i coresponded with the "linked in recruiter". sounded too good to be true and i guess it was

  12. I have also been contacted. The person on linked contacted me and i tried to follow up. I called her company and was told they had no by that name.
    Anyway they offered me $5000 per month. I have played along but will cut them off.
    I have a contract in hand . I have asked for more details but suspect but for info and curiosity.

  13. Also using "Beijing Shougang Company LTD" as a front.
    Same scam, take orders, keep 5%, send rest of money to them. My daughter got taken answering ad thru Linkedin

  14. Seems I may also be a victim of this but have yet to finalize the deal and provide any real information. Extremely scary the lengths people will go for money. I was hopeful to acquire a new career opportunity and instead seems I’m getting to be a part of the newest "catfish" scam. Lucky me.

  15. This is still very active. I received email from scam recruiter thru LinkedIn. Same mail shown above. Did research and found this sight. Thank you for spreading word about this scam. I thought that Linkedin was a serious business sight. From now on I will be more careful.

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