Credentials theft on LinkedIn targets woman in tech
By Audrey Lemley
On November 7, I made a horrifying discovery on LinkedIn – someone else had copied details from my own profile in order to create their profile. They claimed to have the same job title and employment time frame as I did at my current company and to be a graduate of the university I attended, listing the same double major that I had earned (not common). This person even copied the same headline and "About" description that outlines my career experience – word for word.
After the initial shock passed, outrage set in. How dare this person try to claim my professional experience and education! I immediately took screenshots of the profile, then reported it as a fake profile, and took the time contact LinkedIn support directly so I could follow up with additional information. Thankfully, the fake profile was removed by the next morning.
Why the outrage? This was more than just plagiarism. This was someone else stealing my experience in order to get ahead in life – something I have worked very hard to do for myself.
Audrey Lemley
I was the first person in my family to earn a bachelor's degree from a university. I worked all through college in order to pay for it, with some help from my parents, and managed to graduate without any student loan debt (back when that was still possible). My determination also helped inspire one of my cousins to earn a degree from the same university – because she could see it was possible.
My knack for using computer programs led me on an unexpected path into the world of high tech, starting out as a technical writer for a software company, then getting into font design, software product management and the new world of e-commerce. I built on that experience by learning website design and developing websites, then eventually becoming a project manager.
“Throughout my career, I have constantly been learning new technology, refining best practices, and facing new challenges. It has not been an easy road.”
Throughout my career, I have constantly been learning new technology, refining best practices, and facing new challenges. It has not been an easy road. I have been doubted at times by some colleagues, only to prove that I could accomplish what they couldn't. I have endured toxic peers and managers in order to finish a project – for the greater good of the company. I have even, on occasion, been discriminated against as a woman, where my input or contribution did not get the recognition it deserved, after all my hard work – spurring me on to find better opportunities elsewhere.
All these experiences – good and bad – have brought me to where I am today. So, when I stumbled onto that fake profile (ironically, it was suggested as a possible connection), I was outraged. Someone else thought they could simply copy my experience and description to use for their own professional advancement. To add insult to injury, the profile was claiming to be male. A "man" was trying to take credit for the experience I had worked so hard to earn for myself.
“To add insult to injury, the profile was claiming to be male. A “man” was trying to take credit for the experience I had worked so hard to earn for myself.”
In a time when women+ and other minorities have to work extra hard to advance their careers, mostly while being paid less than their white male colleagues, this was an absolute slap in the face. Many of us at times have felt imposter syndrome – but now I was dealing with an actual imposter!
I have no idea if the person was real, or if it was a fake name and a stolen photo, or even a stock photo. It didn't matter. I took steps to get the fake profile removed as soon as possible. It was critical not only to protect my own experience, but also to help others be vigilant about their own profiles. I posted about it on LinkedIn as a warning to other members, and I also notified my entire company right away, so they were aware of this fraudster (the owners were both alarmed and supportive).
Lessons? Check out those suggested connections, especially if one of them claims to be from the same company and school. Don't let a stranger take complete credit for what you worked so hard to earn for yourself. Also, don't ever claim experience you did not earn for yourself – background and reference checks can prove otherwise.