In recent times, the professional networking platform LinkedIn has witnessed a surge in peculiar and seemingly innocuous private messages that, upon closer inspection, reveal a more sinister intent. These messages often begin with friendly overtures, ostensibly establishing a connection based on shared attributes or interests, such as cultural background or professional acquaintance.

Examples of such messages include:

"Hello! LinkedIn recommended you to me. Looking at your profile picture, you are also Chinese, right?"

"Hello, I hope my message does not disturb you. Can I ask you a question?"

At first glance, these messages appear harmless, as if they were a simple attempt at networking or starting a conversation. However, a deeper dive into the profiles of these so-called high-flyers, boasting titles like CEO and holding senior positions in multinational corporations such as IBM, JP Morgan, and ByteDance, reveals a pattern eerily reminiscent of scams common to other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

These profiles are often adorned with images of attractive individuals and a display of wealth and luxury—wine, sports cars, yachts, and trophy moments. Such visual cues are designed to craft an image of success and affluence, presumably lowering the recipient's guard and fostering trust and admiration. However, the underlying motive is far from benign.

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Industry experts assert this is a sophisticated scam operation leveraging LinkedIn's professional veneer to lend credibility to its nefarious aims. The strategy is simple yet effective: engage unsuspecting users with flattery or commonality, establish a rapport, and gradually introduce the true agenda—financial deception. Victims are manipulated into sharing sensitive financial information or persuaded to send gift cards, ultimately leading to monetary loss.

This modus operandi is familiar but has found a new breeding ground on LinkedIn, a traditionally more secure and professional platform than its social media counterparts. Scammers' choice of LinkedIn is strategic, exploiting users' trust in the platform and the professional connections it fosters.

To combat these threats, users must exercise heightened vigilance. The allure of connecting with high-profile individuals may be tempting, but it is crucial to approach such unsolicited messages with scepticism. Here are a few recommendations for LinkedIn users to protect themselves:

1. Profile Scrutiny: Please review the sender's profile before you begin any message, especially from unknown connections. Look beyond the surface-level information and assess the authenticity of their experience, endorsements, and shared connections.

2. Privacy Settings: Utilise LinkedIn's privacy settings to control who can send you messages and view your profile. Regularly reviewing and adjusting these settings can significantly reduce unwanted and potentially malicious contact.

3. Critical Engagement: If a message feels suspicious, do not engage. Asking for personal or financial information is a red flag. Remember, genuine professional connections are built on mutual interests and respect, not unsolicited requests for sensitive data.

4. Report and Block: LinkedIn allows users to report inappropriate messages and profiles. These features help the individual user and the broader LinkedIn community by aiding in identifying and removing scam accounts.

5. Education and Awareness: Stay informed about the latest scam tactics and share this knowledge within your network. Awareness is a powerful tool in combating online fraud.

In conclusion, as LinkedIn continues evolving as a professional networking platform, it is increasingly targeted by sophisticated scam operations exploiting its trusted environment. The platform and its users are responsible for fostering a secure networking space. By exercising caution and employing the recommended safeguards, users can continue to leverage LinkedIn for its intended purpose: fostering genuine professional connections and opportunities. Let's remain vigilant, for only some connections warrant our trust in online networking.

Additional: Did you know that on s͛Card, we keep a blacklist record of online threat actors to prevent them from using our platform for illegal activities? If you come across any suspicious LinkedIn accounts in the future, please send them to us. This will help us protect the general public from these bad actors.

Please note that we do not intend to harm or defame the person in the real photograph. Our goal is to raise awareness about the online scams that use your photos without permission. Many scammers use a variety of photos, and we want to educate people about this issue. If you are the owner of the photo and want it removed from our website, please contact us.