Fake Procurement Scams on LinkedIn
Scammers pose as procurement officers of reputable organisations on LinkedIn to issue fake orders, obtaining goods on credit or steering suppliers into upfront fees.
Part of: Fake Procurement Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
LinkedIn lets fraudsters impersonate procurement staff of well-known organisations with a credibility that a cold email lacks. A profile claiming a buying role at a recognised company, reaching out to a supplier, can open the door to a fake order that feels like a genuine opportunity.
The platform's professional context encourages suppliers to take an inbound procurement approach seriously. A profile that appears connected to a real organisation, paired with a confident pitch about a forthcoming order, lowers the scrutiny a supplier might otherwise apply before extending credit.
How this scam works on LinkedIn
The scammer creates a profile presenting themselves as a procurement officer or buyer at a reputable organisation and contacts a supplier about a substantial order. They reference plausible projects and may move the conversation to email to issue a formal-looking purchase order.
They request goods on credit terms or direct the supplier toward an upfront cost, such as a fee to a designated logistics or compliance provider they control. The borrowed identity of a known organisation reassures the supplier that payment will follow.
If the supplier ships goods, they go to an address the scammer controls and remain unpaid; if the supplier pays a fee, it is lost. The genuine organisation and the real individual whose role is impersonated are typically unaware until the fraud surfaces.
Common red flags
- A procurement contact whose profile has little verifiable history
- A large order proposed before any genuine relationship exists
- A push to move quickly to email and formalise the purchase
- Requests for goods on credit or an upfront fee to a named provider
- Profile details that do not match the organisation's official information
- Delivery addresses inconsistent with the organisation's known sites
How to protect yourself
- Verify the buyer through the organisation's official contact channels
- Confirm the individual genuinely holds the procurement role claimed
- Run credit checks before supplying goods on terms to a new buyer
- Be cautious of any required upfront fee to a third party
- Check delivery addresses against the organisation's known locations
- Avoid relying on the LinkedIn profile alone as proof of identity
How to report it
- Report the profile using LinkedIn's reporting tools
- Alert the genuine organisation being impersonated
- File a report with your national fraud or cybercrime authority
Frequently asked questions
We paid an upfront fee the LinkedIn contact requested. Can we get it back?
Contact your bank or payment provider to ask about recovery options, which depend on how the payment was made. Report the profile to LinkedIn and alert the genuine organisation being impersonated, since they may be dealing with other affected suppliers too.
How do I confirm someone genuinely works in procurement at the company they claim?
Contact the organisation directly through its official website or switchboard, not through any contact details the person gave you, and ask to confirm the individual's role. A genuine procurement contact will not object to this check.
A procurement officer from a big company contacted us on LinkedIn. Should we trust the order?
Verify it independently. Anyone can claim a role on a profile. Confirm the order and the individual through the organisation's official channels, run credit checks before extending terms, and be wary of any upfront fee to a third party.