LinkedIn Tip: Is your invite from a LinkedIn impostor?

What is a LinkedIn impostor? Ideally, you should have an established relationship with every person you connect with on LinkedIn. However, if you are an entrepreneur as I am, you may add people into your network you only know slightly. It is getting hard to know who is real and who is not in today’s world of digital media whether you are on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or another social media network.

This topic was recently discussed on the Career Directors International elist and Robin Schlinger from Robin’s Resumes suggested to do a Google image search on the image in an invite from LinkedIn.

I rejected many potential connections because they seem to suffer from multiple identities. In other words, the same image shows up as many different names. Does this mean a LinkedIn impostor?

One interesting image checks revealed the person who wanted to connect with me used the image of a CEO with GE. This CEO has been featured in top-tier publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, but it was really a LinkedIn impostor. I didn’t connect.

How to do an image search for a LinkedIn impostor

Do an image search on any image using the Chrome browser. Simply right-click on the image and select “Search Google for this Image.” If you see the same person’s photo with multiple names, it could be a scam to get you to connect on LinkedIn.  Perhaps they will attempt a conversation to secure your financial information. Identity theft is rising. You are better off ignoring contacts from people you don’t know and not connect with a LinkedIn impostor.

Need help? While job search is often painful, I take the pain out of writing your resume and even make it fun with a personalized, interactive process. Hire me, Julie Walraven, Certified Master Resume Writer.  Click Here.

Photo Credit