Ever had fake employees on LinkedIn?

[Buffalo]

Idly browsing Linked In earlier (a site I rarely go on these days because it's gone rather downhill) and up pops some bloke who works at my company. News to me!? Never heard of him before.

What's that all about? Other than report the profile, is there much else to be done!?

[LDN]

No but I think it happens a lot. Not sure what these people gain as if they get anywhere they'll be asked for references etc

[Hoofy]

Don't report him. Wait until he gets a job offer, then the reference request comes in.

"Who? Never heard of him!"

[hajaba123]

I worked at a company that had a very attractive marketing assistant on Linked In. I wasnt the only one to have been messaging her before the marketing director let me in on the gag. Apparently it attracted quite a few new contacts for the sales guys to chase up

[Sheepshanks]

Buffalo said:

Idly browsing Linked In earlier (a site I rarely go on these days because it's gone rather downhill) and up pops some bloke who works at my company. News to me!? Never heard of him before.

Are there similar name companies to yours - perhaps he just picked the wrong one? How long does it show him as having worked at your company - maybe he free-typed the name in and LinkedIn has made an assumption when it grouped people together?

[jammy-git]

Hoofy said:

Don't report him. Wait until he gets a job offer, then the reference request comes in.

"Who? Never heard of him!"

Surely the people that do this just give their mates contact details as the reference?!

[Buffalo]

hajaba123 said:

I worked at a company that had a very attractive marketing assistant on Linked In. I wasnt the only one to have been messaging her before the marketing director let me in on the gag. Apparently it attracted quite a few new contacts for the sales guys to chase up

Thanks for the compliment but I doubt anyone is faking working at my place based on my looks alone..!

[Buffalo]

Sheepshanks said:

Buffalo said:

Idly browsing Linked In earlier (a site I rarely go on these days because it's gone rather downhill) and up pops some bloke who works at my company. News to me!? Never heard of him before.

Are there similar name companies to yours - perhaps he just picked the wrong one? How long does it show him as having worked at your company - maybe he free-typed the name in and LinkedIn has made an assumption when it grouped people together?

No I don't think so, I think it has to be deliberate given the way it has been done. Can't see why though. I mean if they wanted a job/ to form an association with us, it's unlikely now....

[TooLateForAName]

What job have they given themselves?

I'd be wondering if there might be something fraudulent going on

[Hoofy]

jammy-git said:

Hoofy said:

Don't report him. Wait until he gets a job offer, then the reference request comes in.

"Who? Never heard of him!"

Surely the people that do this just give their mates contact details as the reference?!

Ah, good point!

[Toaster Pilot]

Depending on the size of company there's a possibility it's social engineering / attempts to find a way to steal information from other employees if the company is big enough you wouldn't necessarily know everyone.

[DonkeyApple]

Buffalo said:

No I don't think so, I think it has to be deliberate given the way it has been done. Can't see why though. I mean if they wanted a job/ to form an association with us, it's unlikely now....

I had some a couple of years ago. I found a handful of semi literate American gibberers had set themselves up as employees of mine and had written drivel like ' making it hapen at xxxxx'

I had LinkedIn remove them but I never worked out why they did it or what they gained from it.