By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
Recruiters are often the gatekeepers to incredible opportunities. For college-educated professionals, LinkedIn is the primary hub for these connections. However, as the digital landscape evolves, so do the tactics scammers use to take advantage of eager job seekers. It’s more important than ever to distinguish between legitimate recruiters offering career-defining roles and bad actors seeking personal information or money.
Designed for the discerning LinkedIn user, this guide will provide 7-10 actionable strategies for vetting recruiters and ensuring your job search remains safe and productive.
1. Double-check their LinkedIn profile: Digital business card
A legitimate recruiter’s LinkedIn profile is their professional storefront. It should be well developed and reflect a consistent career path in recruitment or human resources.
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Professional photos: A clear, professional headshot comes standard. Be wary of profiles with no photos, generic stock images, or images that are too casual.
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Detailed experience: Look for a comprehensive employment history that clearly demonstrates their current role with a reputable company (staffing agency or in-house HR department). Unexplained employment gaps, vague job titles, or a short history of working for multiple unknown companies can all be red flags.
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Connect and endorse: While not foolproof, legitimate recruiters will often have hundreds or even thousands of contacts, many of whom are other professionals in their field or industry. Look for endorsements and recommendations that reflect their recruiting expertise.
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Activity: Do they share industry insights, comment on posts, or engage in meaningful discussions? Static configuration files with no recent activity may be suspicious.
2. Verify their company: due diligence is key
The company a recruiter claims to represent is the cornerstone of their legitimacy. Never take something at face value.
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Official website: Find companies independently. Do you have a professional website? Does the recruiter’s name appear on the “Our Team” or “Contact Us” page (for smaller companies)?
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Online status and comments: Check out news articles, press releases, and reviews on sites like Glassdoor or Google. For a so-called recruitment company, the complete lack of an online footprint is a major red flag. Be wary of new generic name companies.
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Supporting information: Make sure the company name, logo, and contact details on your LinkedIn profile match the official company website. The difference is a red flag.
3. Check the job description: specificity vs. vagueness
Legitimate job postings are detailed and transparent. Scammers often use common language to cast their net.
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Specific roles and responsibilities: A realistic job description will clearly outline the role’s responsibilities, required skills, qualifications and reporting structure.
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Company and location: It should clearly state the hiring company (or company type if the recruiter is being cautious) and the work location (remote, hybrid, or in-office). Vague mentions like “a leading technology company” or “opportunities in your area” without further details are suspicious.
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Realistic expectations: Be wary of positions that promise high pay with little experience, or that sound too good to be true.
4. Observe their communication style: professionalism is important
How a recruiter communicates can reveal their authenticity.
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Professional language: Expect clear, grammatically correct, and professional communication. Misspellings, grammatical errors, and overly casual or urgent language may indicate a scam.
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Personalization: While some initial outreach may be templated, subsequent messages should be personalized, referencing your profile and specific skills.
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Pressure strategy: Legitimate recruiters know that the job search process takes time. Be wary of anyone who pressures you to make an immediate decision, sign documents without review, or provide sensitive information on the spot.
5. Never pay for work: the golden rule
This is perhaps the most critical red flag: Legitimate recruiters do not charge job seekers for their services. Their fees are paid by the recruitment firm.
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No upfront fees: If a recruiter asks you for a fee for training, a background check, a resume review, or any other “service” to secure a job, it’s a scam.
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“Resettlement fee”: This is a classic scam tactic. The real recruiter is compensated by the employer when you are successfully placed.
6. Protect your personal information: only share necessary information when necessary
Be extremely cautious about the personal information you share, especially early in the process.
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Early days: Legitimate recruiters usually only want your resume and perhaps a brief summary of your initial experience.
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Sensitive data: Do not share your bank account details, Social Security Number (SSN), credit card information, or date of birth with the recruiter until you have received a confirmed job offer and filled out formal onboarding documents directly with the hiring company.
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Exception request: Be suspicious of requests for a photo of your identification or to install specific software on your computer.
7. Cross-reference information: double-check everything
If something doesn’t feel right, take a moment to cross-reference the information provided.
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Google search: Search the recruiter’s name, company, and job title. Look for consistent information across multiple reputable sources.
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LinkedIn search: Search LinkedIn for other employees at the company. Do they have similar profiles? Does the recruiter’s network match the company’s industry?
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Independent contact: If you’re very skeptical, you can try to find the company’s general contact email or phone number (not provided by the recruiter) and ask the recruiter if it’s actually an employee.
8. Trust your gut: Gut is a powerful tool
Sometimes, the most reliable indicator is your own gut. If a recruiter’s offer sounds too good to be true, if their story changes, or if something simply doesn’t feel right, listen to that inner alarm. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.
By diligently applying these strategies, you can confidently navigate recruiters on LinkedIn and identify real opportunities while protecting your personal information and career aspirations. Your proactive approach will not only protect you, but also enhance your ability to connect with legitimate professionals who can truly advance your career.
Ⓒ Big Game Hunters, Asheville, NC 2026
An agency called me about a job I had been rejected for
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter is a coach who has been a recruiter for a hundred years. His work involves career coaching, as well as executive job coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 2,000 episodes, and is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council.
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