LinkedIn job scams are exploding in 2025. Fake companies posting real-looking jobs. Real companies posting ghost jobs they never intend to fill. Scammers cloning legitimate company pages to extract money or personal information from desperate job seekers.

The result? Job seekers waste hours applying to positions that don't exist or are outright scams.

Here's your practical checklist to identify fake job postings before you waste time applying.

Red Flag #1: The Company Page Looks Suspicious

Before applying, click on the company name and examine their LinkedIn page.

Warning signs:

Newly created page (less than 6 months old) - Scammers create fresh company pages specifically for fake job postings. Check when the company joined LinkedIn. If it's brand new but claims to be an established company, that's suspicious.

Very few employees listed - Real companies have employees on LinkedIn. If a "500-person company" has 3 employees listed, something's wrong.

No company website or website is brand new - Google the company. If there's no website, no reviews, no online presence beyond LinkedIn, it's likely fake. Use tools like Whois lookup to check when the domain was registered. A website created last month for a "10-year-old company"? Red flag.

Company description is vague or generic - Scammers copy-paste generic descriptions like "leading provider of innovative solutions". Real companies describe specific products, services, or industries.

Mismatched information - Company claims to be headquartered in San Francisco but the address is a residential building in Ohio. Google the address. Scammers use fake addresses or virtual office services.

Red Flag #2: The Job Posting Is Too Good to Be True

If a job seems unrealistically perfect, it probably is.

Warning signs:

High salary for minimal qualifications - "$100K+ for entry-level remote work, no experience required!" is bait. Real high-paying roles require skills and experience.

Vague job description - "Exciting opportunity for motivated self-starter to earn great income!" doesn't describe actual work. Real job postings specify responsibilities, required skills, and what you'll actually be doing.

Immediate start date with no interview - If the posting says "start immediately" or "hired within 24 hours," it's a scam. Real hiring processes have multiple stages.

Generic job title that could mean anything - "Customer Success Representative" or "Business Development Associate" at a company you've never heard of posting dozens of identical roles. Scammers use generic titles to cast a wide net.

Poor grammar and spelling - If the job posting has obvious typos, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing, it's likely fake. Real companies proofread job postings.

Red Flag #3: The Application Process Is Sketchy

The application and interview process reveals whether a job is legitimate.

Warning signs:

Interview via text message, WhatsApp, or Telegram - Real companies use Zoom, phone calls, or Microsoft Teams for interviews, not messaging apps. If a recruiter insists on texting or using WhatsApp, it's a scam.

They ask for money upfront - "Pay for background check," "buy equipment from our vendor," "pay for training materials"—any request for payment is a scam. Real employers pay you, not the other way around.

They ask for bank account info before you're hired - "We need your bank details for direct deposit setup" before you've completed interviews or received an offer is a scam to steal financial information.

They send you a check and ask you to wire money back - Classic scam: They send a fake check for "equipment purchases" and ask you to wire the excess back. The check bounces, your wire is gone.

The "recruiter" has a brand-new LinkedIn profile - Check the recruiter's profile. If it was created in the last few weeks, has few connections, and uses a stock photo, it's fake.

You get an offer without a real interview - If you "pass" an interview that was just a few text exchanges and immediately receive a job offer, it's a scam. Real hiring has multiple rounds and actual conversations.

Red Flag #4: Ghost Jobs (Real Companies, Fake Hiring)

Ghost jobs are postings from real companies that have no intention of actually hiring. 40% of job postings have been open for 30+ days with no activity—many are ghost jobs.

Why companies post ghost jobs:

• To appear like they're growing (investor optics)
• To collect resumes for future hiring
• To gauge market interest before actually opening the role
• To make overworked employees think help is coming

How to spot ghost jobs:

Job has been posted for 60+ days - Real jobs get filled within 30-45 days on average. If it's been up for months, they're likely not actively hiring.

Same job reposted every few weeks - If a company deletes and reposts the same role repeatedly, it's a ghost job to refresh the posting date.

Glassdoor reviews mention "always hiring" for that role - Check Glassdoor. If employees say "they always have this job posted but never fill it," it's a ghost job.

Company recently announced hiring freeze or layoffs - If a company is cutting staff or froze hiring but still has jobs posted, those postings are likely outdated ghost jobs.

Generic "always open" roles - "We're always looking for great talent!" postings with no specific role or start date are resume collection, not active hiring.

Red Flag #5: The Recruiter Is Overly Pushy or Evasive

Real recruiters are professional and transparent. Scammers are pushy and dodge questions.

Warning signs:

Recruiter pressures you to "act fast" or "decide now" - "This offer expires in 24 hours!" is a high-pressure scam tactic. Real employers give you time to evaluate offers.

Recruiter won't answer basic questions - If you ask about company size, role responsibilities, or who you'd report to and the recruiter deflects or gives vague answers, something's wrong.

Recruiter can't or won't provide contact info for the hiring manager - Real recruiters connect you with hiring managers. Scammers keep you isolated.

Recruiter's email domain doesn't match the company - If the recruiter claims to work for Google but emails from a Gmail account (recruiter@gmail.com, not recruiter@google.com), it's fake.

How to Verify a Job Is Legitimate

Before applying or engaging further, do these checks:

1. Google the company name + "scam" or "reviews" - If it's a known scam, someone has posted about it.

2. Check the company's actual website - Look for a careers page. Does the job you saw on LinkedIn appear on their official website? If not, contact the company directly to ask.

3. Look up the recruiter on LinkedIn - Do they have a history, connections, and activity? Or is the profile new with no content?

4. Call the company's main number - Ask to be transferred to HR. Verify that they're hiring for the role and that the recruiter is legitimate.

5. Check Glassdoor for reviews and job listings - Real companies have employee reviews on Glassdoor. Fake companies don't.

6. Verify the email domain - Real recruiters use company email addresses, not Gmail/Yahoo/Outlook.

7. Trust your gut - If something feels off, it probably is.

What to Do If You've Been Scammed

If you've already engaged with a fake job posting:

Stop all communication immediately - Block the recruiter, don't send any more information.

Report to LinkedIn - Flag the job posting and company page as fraudulent.

Report to FTC - File a complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Monitor your credit and bank accounts - If you provided financial or personal information, watch for identity theft.

Don't send money or wire funds - If you've been asked to pay for anything, stop immediately. Don't try to "get your money back" by continuing to engage.

The Bottom Line

Fake job postings on LinkedIn are common enough that every job seeker needs a verification process.

Red flags checklist:

• New or suspicious company page
• Too-good-to-be-true salary or role
• Interview via text/WhatsApp
• Requests for money or bank info
• Recruiter with brand-new profile
• Job posted for 60+ days (ghost job)
• High-pressure tactics or evasion

Verification steps:

• Google the company + "scam"
• Check company website for job listing
• Verify recruiter's identity and email domain
• Call company's main number to confirm
• Trust your instincts

Don't let desperation override your judgment. A few minutes of verification can save you from wasting weeks on fake jobs or losing money to scams.

Stay skeptical. Stay safe.

That's the tip. Use it.

Sources:

• FTC: How to Spot Job Scams
• LinkedIn Safety: Fake Job Postings
• BBB: How to Spot Fake Job Postings
• Indeed: Fake Job Posting Warning Signs