Cyber Issues|Technology News

LinkedIn Imposters: What You Need to Know

Needless to say, LinkedIn imposters all over the place. And you should probably pay attention for the sake of your own cybersecurity

If you are on LinkedIn, then you've probably met more than a few imposters. Most are easy to spot. They say the work for a major company, but their location is nowhere near any of the company's locations. Maybe they have no experience but come with a pretty face and nice sounding title. Needless to say, they're all over the place. And you should probably pay attention for the sake of your own cybersecurity.

The Good News Is LinkedIn has Acted

In the first half of 2019, LinkedIn blocked nearly 22M fake accounts. Yes, that's an M for Million, but it's only 3% of the total # of users. LinkedIn has more the 645 M users. But, as anyone know who is active on LinkedIn knows, that number seems very low. According to LinkedIn, 98% of the fraudulent accounts were removed or blocked using the automated defenses put in place by the network, while the remaining accounts were spotted by people, according to GeekWire.

Why Should You Care about LinkedIn Imposters?

There are two reasons that you should care. First, fake accounts get in the way of true networking. LinkedIn is an important tool for many people, especially in the professional services market. Fake accounts take up your valuable time as you need to sift through the phony requests to get the those which a relevant to your business. Fake accounts might boost your numbers, but they won't help you gain more business. If you deal with business-to-business marketing and communication on LinkedIn, then you really need to be certain that you aren't accidently falling for an imposter.

Second, LinkedIn, unlike Facebook and Twitter, are actually trying to take actions so these fake accounts don't harm their credibility. We all know the number is higher than 3%, and we can be part of the solution. When you suspect as suspicious account, report it to LinkedIn. I know it's an added step, but it might help ensure that less of your time is wasted in the future. Plus, you don't want to become victim to a' phishing scheme' or something else disastrous.

These are simple steps to take in order to protect yourself from problems in the future and for the safety of your business.

Founder Headshot

About the Author

Brian Cairns, CEO of Prostrategix Consulting. Over 25 years of business experience as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, and small business owner. For more information, please visit my LinkedIn profile

Join the 1000's who receive our weekly Small Business Tips
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Recent Blog Posts
Small Business Ratios: The Terms to Know
A sample of three of the major Small Business financial terms to know: cash flow, liquidity, and "quick or current ratios" that help in the short-term.
Small Business Banking in 2020: The 3 Things to Know
The look of banking in 2020 has changed. See how building a relationship with a banker or banking expert is even more important than ever considering a new normal.
Top 3 Small Business Financial Ratios COVID Made Critical
Financial ratios for small business is not a sexy topic. But, if there was a way to know if your business was on fire, would you want to know?
Get Where You Want to Be.
Today is the day to build the business of your dreams. Share your challenges with us — and we'll help you make them go away.
Start Now

ProStrategix Advisors Copyright 2020 © All rights Reserved.