LinkedIn felt safe. The scam didn't.

After a layoff I treated every LinkedIn ping like oxygen, so when a "recruiter" offered contract work at a strong rate with an NDA, it felt like my network was finally paying off. They said I had to buy equipment from their vendor first and would be reimbursed—classic hook, but I was too hungry to see it.

The profile had mutual connections and polished posts I now know were cloned from a real hiring manager. They emailed a vendor link; I paid thousands on my card while a "payroll cheque" was supposedly in the mail. The cheque bounced after the vendor pocketed the sale.

Professional networks lend false legitimacy. The vendor site was a shell, the job never existed, and LinkedIn removed the account only after I reported—by then the money was gone.

I wanted pipeline after unemployment and told myself due diligence meant reading their posts, not calling a main corporate line. Fear of looking difficult kept me from insisting on company email onboarding.

When I demanded a video call, a different face appeared than the profile photo; the call dropped mid-sentence and the inbox stopped replying. That mismatch was when I admitted the whole thread had been theater.

Imposter syndrome stacked on top of real fraud—I questioned every skill on my CV while disputing charges. Recovery was partial at best.

I now require company-domain email for hiring steps and I never prepay vendors I did not pick myself. I wish I had called HR on a number from the employer's real site on day one.

• InMail jobs that require money out first are a stop sign—verify through official channels.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.