Many people think of LinkedIn as a safe, professional place to connect with colleagues or explore job opportunities. Unfortunately, scammers are now using LinkedIn messages to trick people into giving them access to their computers and accounts.
A message that seems professional
The scam usually starts with a message from someone who says they are a recruiter or work for a real company. The message can look very convincing and may even mention details from your LinkedIn profile to sound legitimate.
A link to click
After a few messages, the “recruiter” sends a link. They may say it’s to schedule an interview, join a meeting, or continue the conversation.
Hidden access to your computer
When the link is clicked, harmful software can be installed without you realizing it. This software allows the scammer to see what’s on your computer and, sometimes, control it remotely.
Accounts taken over
Once scammers have access to your computer, they may try to get into your email, LinkedIn account, or other accounts connected to that device. From there, they can attempt to make purchases, reset passwords, or pretend to be you.
Why it’s especially tricky
In some cases, scammers use fake profiles that look real. In others, they take over actual recruiter accounts, which makes the messages even harder to spot as scams.
Article by Jenny Leight, Business Development & Strategy at Carefull. Carefull is a business partner of California’s Credit Unions and Nevada’s Credit Unions.
