Claim:
An email that claims to be from LinkedIn says: "People are looking at your profile."
Context
It's true that LinkedIn has, in the past, sent legitimate emails that notified users that their profiles had been viewed by people at companies. However, the kind of phishing scam covered in this fact check used lookalike messages that came from unofficial email addresses.
On Feb. 2, 2022, we reviewed a scam email that claimed to be from LinkedIn and had the subject line, "People are looking at your profile." It read as follows:
People are looking at your profile
LinkedIn ([email protected])
You appeared in searches this week
You were found by people from these companies
Avanade
Who's looking?
LinkedIn is a website where job seekers can apply for positions, update their work history, and network with other business professionals.
While the email did claim to be from LinkedIn, the email address that it came from was [email protected]. This meant that the email address was hosted by a Russian website, and had no affiliation with LinkedIn.
People might truly be looking at your LinkedIn profile, but this message was a scam.
According to Gmail, the message was detected as being dangerous. "Similar messages were used to steal people's personal information. Avoid clicking links, downloading attachments, or replying with personal information."
Beneath a billboard ad for online jobs website LinkedIn a queue of bus passengers wait for the next service at Waterloo Station during the morning rush-hour, on 5th June 2019, in London, England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images Images)
It's true that LinkedIn has sent similar emails to users in the past, often listing companies that may have "looked at your profile." However, this specific scam email was sent from a Russian email address, and likely led to phishing attempts. We strongly advise against clicking any links in these kinds of emails.
Examples of safe email addresses used by LinkedIn are [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]. If a message is received from one of these email addresses, it is likely to be safe.
More details about LinkedIn and phishing can be found on the company's website. In sum, avoid messages from Russian and other unofficial email addresses that promise people are "looking at" your LinkedIn profile.
