Don’t Fall for Fake Sales Rep Bots on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the world’s top five largest social media platforms today, although many of its members refer to it as the world’s largest professional community. There is much evidence and proof to go along with this fact. According to an April 2022 Statista report, LinkedIn was the foremost social networking platform used by prospective employees, with the United States of America having the most users (200 million)!
However, this has brought up an unexpected rise in the number of bots sales reps masquerading as sales reps and employers on the platform. A recent Stanford Internet Observatory study found more than 1000 fake accounts alone, and they seemed to be run by AI bots.
It can be difficult to identify which LinkedIn accounts are authentic, and there is a high possibility a wide range of people have fallen victim to the fake bots on LinkedIn, releasing confidential information.
This article will help you know how to identify fake sales reps and accounts on LinkedIn so that you can increase your account and general IT security. Read on to learn more.
The Probable Damage of Fake Sales Reps on LinkedIn
As with any online platform, LinkedIn is not immune to fake profiles and fraudulent activities. Here are some of the probable damage of fake sales reps on LinkedIn
Undermining Trust and Credibility
One of the most significant consequences of fake sales reps on LinkedIn is the loss of trust and credibility. Due to the fact that genuine professionals rely on LinkedIn to build connections and explore potential business collaborations, encountering a fake sales rep can raise doubts about the credibility of other profiles. This can lead to a loss of cooperation and opportunities
Reputation Damage to Legitimate Companies
Fake sales reps often pose as representatives of reputable organizations, tarnishing the image and reputation of these companies. By impersonating well-known brands or businesses, they can deceive LinkedIn users into engaging in fraudulent transactions or sharing sensitive information. The association of a legitimate company’s name with fraudulent activities can lead to reputational damage and negatively impact their business operations.
Data Breaches and Identity Theft
Fake sales reps may exploit their LinkedIn connections to gain access to personal or corporate data. They might request sensitive information under the pretext of verifying credentials or facilitating a business deal. Once in possession of such data, these bots can misuse it for identity theft, phishing attacks, or other malicious activities.
Wasted Resources and Missed Opportunities
People who fall victim to fake sales reps end up wasting valuable time, effort, and resources in dealing with the aftermath. They might have to engage in lengthy negotiations, sign agreements, or make financial commitments, only to discover that the entire interaction was a sham.
How to Spot Fake Sales Reps Bot on LinkedIn
Here are some essential and helpful tips that can help you spot various fake sales reps bots on LinkedIn:
Two-Step Dissociation
This very simple step works not just for fake sales reps but also for about any bot out there. Ask a question, and then ask a second question that is in sync or has the same context as the first. Here is an example:
- Question: Where do you work, and what department are you in?
- Answer: Los Angeles
- Question: What is the weather out there like?
What comes next is most likely a question from the bot requesting you to rephrase what was asked. This indicates standard bot behavior; a human sales rep will most likely answer and give you more details than expected. A bot, however, cannot actually connect both questions.
Conversation Flow
Like many AI creations nowadays, and especially with the current explosion of AI tools in recent years (Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are common examples), bots are no longer creative, often choosing to give easy, stuffed, and straightforward responses. This is because they always have to pick their responses from the same database every time, which means there will always be familiarity with their responses.
When conversing, look for similar, repetitive, and semantically similar sentences. All of these will let you know you are dealing with a bot. If you can, ask the same question in different ways, replacing synonyms, and you will likely get the same responses repeatedly.
Profiles
Fake sales reps often have incomplete profiles or profiles that lack specific details. Look for profiles with vague job titles, minimal work experience, and generic descriptions. Legitimate sales professionals typically provide detailed information about their backgrounds, skills, and achievements.
Poor Quality Profile Picture
Fake profiles often use generic or stock images as profile pictures. Look for signs of low-quality images, inconsistent lighting, or unusual backgrounds. Additionally, a reverse image search can help identify if the picture was taken from other online sources.
Human Instincts
Instincts have always been a useful tool for humans to have, and they can be of good help here. If you are conversing on LinkedIn and think something is not right, there is a possibility that might be the case. To begin, watch out for the above-stated points, and you’re good to go.
Tips to Avoid Falling Victim to Fake Sales Reps Bots on LinkedIn
Scrutinize Profiles
Carefully examine the profile of a sales rep, including their work experience, connections, and activity history. Look for inconsistencies, such as sudden spikes in connections or an absence of engagement with other professionals.
Verify Company Affiliations
If a sales rep claims to represent a particular company, independently verify the information. Search for the company’s official website or contact their customer support to confirm the sales rep’s authenticity and affiliation.
Take Time to Research
Conduct thorough research before engaging in any business discussions or sharing sensitive information. Look for online reviews, testimonials, or any negative reports associated with the sales rep or their company.
Report Suspicious Profiles
LinkedIn provides reporting mechanisms to flag fake profiles or bots. Report any suspicious sales rep profiles to LinkedIn, providing as much detail or information as possible to help protect other users from falling victim to their scams.
Let Quantum Technologies Offer You Completely Topnotch Cybersecurity Services
Need help with cloud security? Our team of professionals can help you protect accounts from being breached and train your users to avoid scams.
Contact us to learn more.
