Fake LinkedIn Recruiter Message Script
This scam message poses as a recruiter on a professional network, offering an attractive remote job with flexible hours or high pay to draw you into conversation. Once engaged, the scammer asks for personal information for a 'background check,' requests an upfront equipment fee, or steers you toward a task-based or investment platform. It exploits job-seekers' hope and the credibility a polished profile lends. The real goal is to harvest identity information or extract payments never reimbursed. The most important step is to never pay to get a job and verify the company independently first.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Hi [name], I came across your profile and think you'd be a great fit for a remote [role] at [company]. The salary is [amount]. Are you open to opportunities?
Congratulations — you've been shortlisted. To proceed, please complete our onboarding form and provide your date of birth and social security number for a background check.
Your equipment stipend of [amount] has been processed. You'll need to forward [amount] to our IT vendor for setup — you'll be reimbursed on your first paycheck.
The role involves completing simple online tasks that our clients need reviews for. Your supervisor will guide you each day.
What the scammer wants
To harvest personal and financial information under the guise of recruitment, or to lure you into a task or investment scam, or to extract an upfront equipment fee that is never reimbursed.
Red flags in the message
- Offer for a well-paid remote role with minimal requirements
- Recruiter profile recently created or with few connections
- Background-check form requests Social Security number or passport details early
- Request to forward an equipment advance from a cheque they send
- Role described as liking, rating, or completing short tasks
- Salary far above market rate for the level of work described
- Interview conducted entirely by text or chat with no video call
- Onboarding materials sent via a personal email or unsecured link
A safe response
Research the recruiter and company independently. Look up the company on its official website, verify the recruiter's profile history, and never provide sensitive personal details or pay any fee as part of a job application process.
What not to send
- Social Security number or passport details at an early application stage
- Equipment or onboarding fee payments
- Bank account details before a legitimate offer letter is signed
What to do if you already replied
- If you forwarded an equipment advance, contact your bank — the original cheque may bounce and you will owe the full amount
- If you shared personal identifiers, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file
- Report the fake profile to LinkedIn or the relevant platform
- If you were redirected into a task platform, stop any deposits and save evidence
- Report the incident to your national consumer or fraud authority
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times
Frequently asked questions
The recruiter has a real-looking profile with connections and work history — is that proof they're legitimate?
Fake profiles are often built up over months with stolen photos and fabricated experience, or scammers impersonate a real employee. Verify by contacting the company directly through its official website or careers page, not through links the recruiter provides.
They asked for my ID and bank details for 'onboarding' before an interview — is that normal?
No — legitimate employers only request sensitive documents like ID or bank details after a formal offer, typically through secure HR systems, not chat messages. Providing this early risks identity theft even if no job ever materializes.
I already paid for 'training materials' or equipment — can I get it back?
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to ask about disputing the charge, though recovery depends on the payment method and how much time has passed. Also report the incident to the platform so the profile can be investigated and removed.
How do I check if a job offer is real?
Search for the company's official careers page and apply or verify directly there, call the company's published phone number, and be wary of any role requiring payment, unusual banking tasks, or excessive personal detail before a signed offer.