Can You Spot a Fake LinkedIn Sales Bot?

Are you on LinkedIn? Do you use it for checking out prospective vendors, new employees, or clients? If so, are you wary of people or businesses with no presence there? At this point, that says as much as a company not having a website.

It seems like you don’t exist if you are in business but not on LinkedIn. If your business practices include looking someone up there – perhaps somebody you’re considering hiring, a B2B sales prospect, or a vendor, what do you think when that person or business has no profile? Does it make you think that they are not a real ‘grown-up’ professional? It’s not a stretch to surmise that.

While sometimes it seems that LinkedIn is just a place where members try to sell their services or wares to other members, it has grown into a powerful platform for professionals. People use it to connect, network, and explore business opportunities. But with its growing popularity, red flags have appeared. There has been an increase in the presence of fake LinkedIn sales bots.

This is not just another scam to spread spam, these sales bots impersonate real users and attempt to actively scam unsuspecting individuals – just one of the many found on LinkedIn. According to the FBI, fraud on LinkedIn poses a ‘significant threat’ to platform users.

Let’s delve into this world of fake LinkedIn sales bots to help you avoid being taken in by these charlatans. We’ll explore their tactics and provide you with valuable tips. You’ll learn how to spot and protect yourself from these scams. By staying informed and vigilant, you can foster a safer LinkedIn experience.

How to tell if someone is a bot on LinkedIn?

Scams perpetrated through social media often play on emotions and conceit. We all like recognition, so who doesn’t want to be thought of as special or interesting? Scammers will reach out to connect. That connection request alone can make someone feel wanted. People often knee-jerk accept before researching the person’s profile (“WOW! Look how many friends I have!!!”).

Top that off with a legitimate sounding business proposition on, and people can easily be fooled. People that are looking for a job or business opportunity may have their guard - and their suspicions - down. There is also an inherent trust people give other business professionals. Many trust LinkedIn connections more than Facebook requests.

Given all that, how can you tell the real requests from the fake ones? Here are some tips on spotting scammers and bots.

Incomplete Profiles with Generic Photos

Fake LinkedIn sales bots often have incomplete, threadbare profiles, with limited or generic information – just enough to get them in play on the site. They may lack a comprehensive work history or educational background. These bots tend to use generic profile pictures like stock photos or images of models (like just about anywhere online). Still, it’s very possible that ‘Natasha Notabot’ just happens to be the spitting image of Scarlett Johansson.

When you see a profile lacking specific, commonplace details, it should raise a red flag. Authentic LinkedIn users typically provide comprehensive information to establish credibility and foster trust among their connections. LinkedIn is for making business connections, and a smart user wants anyone viewing their profile to feel comfortable with them.

Impersonal and/or Generic Messages

A flat messaging approach that’s bereft of any personality is typically one of the key characteristics of fake sales bots. The text is often impersonal and generic, since these bots send mass messages with no personalization, with no specific references to your profile or industry, using generic templates or scripts to engage with potential targets. This is usually a dead give-away.

Legitimate LinkedIn users typically tailor their messages to specific individuals. They might mention shared connections, recent posts, or industry-specific topics, all of which foster a feeling of kinship. Exercise caution If you receive a message that feels overly generic or lacks personalization. Be sure to scrutinize the sender's profile before proceeding further.

Overly Promotional Content making Unrealistic Claims

One of the hallmarks of fake LinkedIn sales bots is constant bombardment of users, sending a rash of DMs with excessive promotional content, and making unrealistic claims. These bots often promote products or services aggressively without offering much information or value.

Overnight success, incredible profits, or instant solutions to complex problems are just a few of the bots’ big, empty promises. By understanding that trust must be earned, genuine professionals on LinkedIn focus on building relationships. They try to provide valuable insights and engage in meaningful discussions instead of resorting to constant self-promotion.

Still, it’s a simple fact: everybody who is on LinkedIn is there to further their own goals. Just be wary of connections that focus solely on selling and don’t offer any meaningful content or engagement.

Poor Spelling and Grammar 

This is always a dead giveaway. Pay attention to the spelling and grammar in messages when communicating on LinkedIn. You may dismiss an error from an international-sounding connection, but it could also be a bot.

Fake LinkedIn sales bots often display inconsistent or poor grammar and spelling mistakes. These errors can serve as a clear sign that the sender is not genuine. Legitimate LinkedIn users typically take pride in their communication skills. They try to maintain a high standard of professionalism.

If you encounter messages with several grammatical errors or spelling mistakes, exercise caution. Investigate further before engaging with the sender.

 Weird Connection Requests and Unfamiliar Profiles

Fake LinkedIn sales bots employ connection requests, because they generally send out a lot of these indiscriminately – simply bait to see who comes to the hook. They may target users that seem to have little or no relevance or shared professional interests.

While you may be flattered that people want to connect with you, ask yourself “What does this person want with me?” Be cautious when accepting connection requests from unfamiliar profiles, especially if the connection seems unrelated to your industry or expertise.

Don’t dive right in - review the requesting profile; check their mutual connections and assess the relevance of their content. Legitimate LinkedIn users are more likely to have a connection. They typically send connection requests to others with shared interests or professional networks.