What is ‘LinkedIn Fake Job Scam’:Don’t fall for instant job high-salary offers; how to figure out real fake offers

Nowadays cyber fraudsters are targeting people looking for jobs. They carry out fraud by luring people on LinkedIn with dream jobs, work from home, remote internships and high salaries. Fraudsters create fake recruiter profiles claiming instant selection without interview and then demand registration fees, training charges and sensitive details. The ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) has issued an alert about this. Therefore, in today’s ‘Cyber Literacy’ column, we will discuss ‘LinkedIn Fake Job Scam’ in detail. We will also learn: Expert: Rahul Mishra, Cyber Security Advisor, Uttar Pradesh Police Question- What is ‘LinkedIn Fake Job Scam’? Answer- This is a cyber fraud in which scammers pose as a company’s HR, recruiter, or talent acquisition manager to offer jobs. Later, they defraud people by asking for fees, personal information, and banking details. Question- How do cyber fraudsters trap people in ‘job scams’? Answer- Scammers first study profiles. They look at- After this, fraudsters offer jobs through messages or emails. They contact people posing as fake recruiters and execute the fraud through a fake selection process. See the complete scam game in the graphic- Question- Who are the people targeted by scammers? Answer- Fraudsters target these people- Question- How to identify whether a job offer on LinkedIn is real or fake? Answer- Not every job offer on LinkedIn is fake. But it is necessary to verify it before trusting any offer. Some signs can help differentiate between real and fake offers. Understand this from the graphic given below- Question- How to identify a fake recruiter? Answer- For this, carefully look at the recruiter’s LinkedIn profile. Check that- If the recruiter- Question- Does having a blue tick or verified badge on LinkedIn guarantee security? Answer- No, it only indicates that the profile is verified. It does not guarantee the credibility of any job offer or recruiter. Therefore, always cross-check any job offer. Question- What information should never be shared without verification in the initial stages of the job process? Answer- Avoid sharing this information in the initial phase of the job process- Question- What do scammers say to demand money? Answer- Fraudsters ask for money on these pretexts- Question- If someone falls for this scam, what losses can they face? Answer- Fraudsters can use candidate’s personal details for various types of cybercrimes. See all risks in the graphic- Question- How to avoid ‘LinkedIn Fake Job Scam’? Answer- The best way is to thoroughly investigate any job offer before trusting it. Verify the company, recruiter and selection process. Under no circumstances share money, OTP or sensitive information. See ways to avoid scams in the graphic- Question- What should you do if you become a victim of ‘LinkedIn Fake Job Scam’? Answer- In such a situation, take immediate action- Question- What precautions should be taken while applying for a job? Answer- Apply only through trusted and official platforms.