LinkedIn Profile Scams! 4 Security Measures to Implement NOW.

According to a recent report by Check Point Research, LinkedIn, the business platform owned by Microsoft, is impersonated in almost half of all phishing attacks worldwide.

How Scammers Leverage LinkedIn for Phishing Attacks

Scammers often target individuals on LinkedIn who are actively seeking new job opportunities or a career change. While receiving emails like “You have 1 new invitation” or “Your profile has been viewed by 63 people” may seem legitimate, it is crucial to verify the sender's email address to confirm its authenticity. These imposters craft emails that closely resemble genuine ones, luring victims into clicking on links that lead to fake LinkedIn pages designed to steal personal information upon entry.

Scammers also take advantage of LinkedIn by creating bogus profiles and enticing individuals with promising job opportunities. Once they have your attention, they may request a small upfront payment to move forward with your application, which you'll never see again, or they might direct you to a seemingly harmless form that is actually a disguised phishing link.

LinkedIn's Efforts to Enhance User Security

LinkedIn is aware of the problem and is working on developing advanced security features to protect its users. Here are four of the current security features it has already deployed:

1. Suspicious Message Warnings

LinkedIn's technology can identify messages from individuals trying to divert you away from the platform or communicating potentially inappropriate content, triggering a warning notification for your safety.

2. Profile Verification

This feature enables you to confirm the authenticity of your profile. By providing an additional form of identification, you can obtain a verification badge on your profile, signaling to anyone who views it that you are indeed the person you claim to be. This feature is particularly valuable as scammers are constantly on the lookout for new targets and often neglect to keep their information current, resulting in swift shutdowns of their pages.

3. Profile Information

This feature allows you to see the details of a person’s profile to help you determine whether or not to respond to a message, accept a connection request, trust an offer, etc. Under your profile, if you click “More” and select “About this profile” from the drop-down menu, you’ll see information like:

• When the profile was created.
• When the profile was last updated.
• Whether the member has verified a phone number.
• Whether the member has a work e-mail associated with their account.

4. AI-Generated Profile Picture Detection

Scammers use artificial intelligence to create convincing profile pictures of fake users and profiles to deceive unsuspecting LinkedIn members. Shockingly, LinkedIn's research revealed that distinguishing between genuine and artificially generated faces was a challenging task for users. Consequently, LinkedIn collaborated with Academia to develop advanced detection capabilities, enabling the platform to identify AI-generated profile pictures and promptly deactivate these fraudulent profiles before they pose any threats.

Stay Secure While Using LinkedIn

Do you use LinkedIn to find jobs, employees, or clients? It’s a great resource for business, but it’s important to stay secure. However, LinkedIn’s features are just the first line of defense. If someone in your organization were to fall for a scam and click a bad link, would your internal security solutions be enough to protect your network?

To schedule a complimentary Security Risk Assessment to assess your network's vulnerability to potential attacks, please contact us at 509.396.6640 or click here to schedule your assessment.

About Teknologize

Teknologize is a SOC 2 Type II accredited Managed IT and Cybersecurity provider serving small to mid-sized businesses across Washington and Oregon. We deliver full-service Managed IT Support, Co-Managed IT Support, advanced Cybersecurity Solutions, and IT Compliance Services for regulated industries, including Healthcare, Financial Institutions, the Utilities Sector, Manufacturing, and Professional Services.

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