LinkedIn has long been the go-to platform for job seekers and professionals looking to network and find employment opportunities. However, in recent months, the professional social networking platform has increasingly become a playground for scammers seeking to exploit the trust and reputation of companies to lure unsuspecting job seekers into malicious traps.

At SOMS Digital, we’ve received numerous calls, emails, and messages regarding this alarming recruitment scam, and we felt it was important to raise awareness, share what to watch out for, and provide practical tips to help you stay safe online.

How This Scam Works: 

LinkedIn has always been seen as a safe and professional space for job seekers to connect with recruiters and vice versa. This latest employment scam takes advantage of that trust, reaching out to job seekers via LinkedIn messages that appear to come from legitimate company representatives.

The message will contain a fake job listing, directing recipients to a link claiming to show the “official” details. Unfortunately, when you click or download the job description, it immediately releases malware onto your computer. According to Hackers.com, this malware is often designed to evade antivirus detection, making it even more sinister. 

Alternatively, the scammer may move or start the conversation on other messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Telegram. Some of the reports we’ve seen involve scammers claiming to contact individuals on behalf of SOMS Digital, posing as a Development Manager or HR Manager. Victims are then offered “jobs” where they are promised compensation in exchange for following a number of social media accounts, a tactic very similar to a previous Telegram scam we wrote about. 

Once you’ve expressed interest,  a PDF containing the Terms and Conditions of the job is sent. As you can guess, this link contains malware. 

What To Do

If you’re unsure about a message you’ve received from SOMS Digital, here’s what you can do: 

  • Contact us directly! We’re always happy to provide you with clarity, so if you’re unsure about a message you’ve received, contact us. 
  • Don’t click a link or download an attachment. 
  • Verify the sender’s profile. Check for consistent work history, connections, and whether the account is linked to a legitimate company email.
  • Keep a look out for red flags. Offers that sound too good to be true, ask for payment, or require you to follow multiple social media accounts are usually scams.
  • Report suspicious activity to LinkedIn immediately so they can investigate and warn other users.

At SOMS Digital, your security is of the utmost importance to us. We will never contact you via WhatsApp or Telegram to offer job opportunities or request personal information. All legitimate communications regarding roles or recruitment will come directly through verified company channels.

Have something fishy to report? Pop us a message via our chat for peace of mind.