The LinkedIn Recruiter Verification System Takes a Crack at Scam Prevention

Hiring scams are on the rise, but not on LinkedIn’s watch. The new LinkedIn recruiter verification system is all set to curb the rise of fake profiles and suspicious recruiters who intend to dupe hopeful candidates looking for a job. As part of LinkedIn’s identity verification systems, those who don job titles with recruitment-related roles will now require an official work email ID to verify their role at the organization they are recruiting for.

The scam prevention system by LinkedIn also extends to certain leadership positions, such as executive director or vice president, just to ensure that these leaders who conduct official communications through these profiles are accurately verified. While this new change does complicate matters for new recruiters, it’s an admirable step towards ensuring that scammers don’t misuse the LinkedIn platform for their own malicious means.

LinkedIn’s recruiter verification system is designed to add a layer of security to the process of hiring through the job search platform. (Image: Freepik)

Understand the LinkedIn Recruiter Verification System And What It Means for HR

LinkedIn’s verification systems are not necessarily a new concept, as the company already has a similar system in place that has been useful over the last year. The existing verifications help organizations acquire a LinkedIn Recruiter license, which employees can use to represent their organizations among aspiring job seekers. 

The latest verification update will not come with the requirement of a paid license, which means that more individuals should be able to authenticate their identities quickly and efficiently. 

What are LinkedIn’s New Verification Features?

Existing recruiters on the platform can be at ease as the LinkedIn verification update will apply to those creating a new account or changing their job title to something recruitment-related. Those who do need to add a recruiter job title shouldn’t have a hard time with it either. All it requires is an authentic company email address. 

Executives who are taking on leadership positions at an organization will also have to similarly use a company ID to verify their role before they can set titles like “Executive Director” or “Managing Director” on their profiles. 

Individuals who want to verify their accounts, regardless of their workplace, can also use LinkedIn’s partnership with CLEAR to verify their accounts, just to add a confirmation of authenticity to their profiles. 

Is the LinkedIn Verification Update a Good Idea?

LinkedIn’s scam prevention system does appear to be simplistic to a degree, as it is unclear just how many “recruiter-related” titles it will identify. Scammers know how to get creative, and it’s possible that many will come up with job titles that don’t get caught by the platform’s systems, and those don’t need to be verified. The process of verification of a company ID may also be easy to bypass unless the company is required to verify the employee. 

However, it is also possible that job seekers will be more suspicious of communications from unverified profiles, which is part of the intended effect of this change. While there do appear to be some flaws in the plan, it’s a useful step towards security that cannot be denied.

Why Is LinkedIn Exploring Mandatory Verifications for Recruiters?

Hiring-related scams are growing by the day, and while they don’t necessarily all occur on LinkedIn, this verification system helps to add a layer of security to the interactions that occur on the platform. HR-related scams are a very common way for malicious parties to take advantage of candidates looking for a job, and with the rise of AI, it has only become easier.

There is equal danger for organizations as well, with the rise of ghost candidates and fake job seekers looking to exploit businesses, particularly those that conduct interviews online or operate remotely. Caution is essential on all fronts, whether you’re a recruiter or a job seeker, and verified profiles and authentic company email IDs do help guarantee some security.

If you’re a recruiter hoping to use LinkedIn to find the right candidates for your organization, it’s important to stay up-to-date with LinkedIn’s recruiter verification system and other platform changes that allow you to conduct your job with more confidence and authenticity. 

Does LinkedIn’s mandatory verification process do enough to address the threats on its platform, or should the company be doing more? Let us know what you think. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.