While I’ve been consistently blogging in Hungarian over the years—sharing my insights on LinkedIn strategies, personal branding, and digital trust—this is my first post in English in quite some time.

During this period, I’ve observed a dramatic escalation in LinkedIn scams targeting professionals worldwide. From sophisticated pig butchering schemes to elaborate phishing attacks, the risks are no longer reserved for the careless—they can reach any of us.

My recent work has brought me in close contact with these issues, collecting real-world examples and lessons from both victims and experts across Europe. The biggest lesson: vigilance and knowledge are your best defenses.

In this post, I’m sharing the most important signs of LinkedIn scams in 2025, practical ways to protect your identity, and my perspective as a European specialist and keynote speaker in this field.  I’ll also be posting regular updates like this in English — so if you want key learnings and speaking event info in your inbox, stay tuned here (the Hungarian Substack newsletter is not translated, but you’ll find fresh English content on this blog from now on).

Defending Against LinkedIn Scams – The Southeast Asian "Businesswoman" Approach

Have you ever received messages on LinkedIn from "Southeast Asian businesswomen"* offering lucrative partnerships? These scams are run by well-organized international networks.

Their playbook typically includes:

• Algorithm excuse – “LinkedIn’s algorithm suggested your profile…”
• Business proposal, followed by a suggestion for a personal meeting
• Moving the conversation to WhatsApp – this is the biggest red flag!

The core of the "pig butchering" scam:

• Long-term trust building, with the final goal: investment (often crypto) fraud
• LinkedIn is ideal terrain: professional setting, detailed career info, business context

How to protect yourself:

• Report and block suspicious profiles!
• Never share your WhatsApp number with strangers!
• Immediately delete the conversation, but keep the email notification!

This is a global phenomenon—with American, European, and Asian examples. Authentic education on this topic is highly valuable for English-speaking readers!

* The "Southeast Asian Businesswoman" scam isn't necessarily run from Southeast Asia; those fraudsters could actually be operating out of other parts of the world. However, the model was a huge hit, so the new scammers are just copying that successful scam.

Accelerate is LinkedIn's new AI-driven campaign tool, designed to streamline and optimize the advertising process.

1. Key Features of LinkedIn Accelerate
2. Challenges



1. Key Features of LinkedIn Accelerate


That makes Linkedin Accelerate such a valuable tool for B2B advertisers:

• Faster campaign creation: Advertisers can now create effective campaigns in minutes, thanks to Accelerate's intuitive interface and advanced machine learning algorithms.

• Targeting accuracy: Accelerate uses machine learning to identify the most relevant audiences for advertisers, leading to higher engagement and lower costs per action.

• Ad copy generation: Accelerate can generate high-quality ad copy on-the-fly, based on the target audience and campaign objectives.


Real-time optimization

One of the most impressive features of
Accelerate is its ability to optimize campaigns in real-time. As campaigns run,
Accelerate analyzes performance data and
adjusts ad placement and targeting to
maximize results.

This means that advertisers can rest assured
that their campaigns are always running at peak efficiency, without the need for manual intervention.


Scalability

Another benefit of Accelerate is its scalability.
As a business grows and its advertising needs evolve, Accelerate can easily adapt to meet those needs.


Competitive Advantage

By taking advantage of the power of Accelerate, businesses can gain a significant competitive edge over their rivals. With better targeting, higher engagement, and lower costs, Accelerate-powered campaigns can deliver superior results at a lower cost per acquisition.

Furthermore, by automating many of the time-consuming and manual tasks associated with advertising, businesses can free up valuable time and resources for other aspects of their marketing strategy.


2. Challenges

While Accelerate offers many benefits, it's L not without its challenges.

One potential issue is the risk of over-reliance on AI.
While AI is an incredibly powerful tool, it's not infallible.
It's important for businesses to carefully monitor and manage their Accelerate campaigns to ensure that they're achieving the desired results.


Regulatory

Another challenge is the potential for regulatory hurdles. As AI continues to develop and evolve, lawmakers and regulators are increasingly focused on the ethical and privacy implications of AI-driven advertising.

Businesses will need to stay up-to-date on these regulations and ensure that their Accelerate campaigns comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

These regulations cover a range of issues, including data privacy, consumer protection, and advertising transparency.


Laws Regulations

• Israel:
◦ Israeli Privacy Protection Act
◦ Israeli Consumer Protection Law

• EU:
◦ General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
◦ ePrivacy Directive (EU)

• UK:
◦ General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
◦ UK Data Protection Act

• US / Canada
◦ California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
◦ Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
◦ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA)
◦ Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act)
◦ CAN-SPAM Act


There may be additional laws and regulations that are relevant to LinkedIn Accelerate in other regions, but the ones I've listed are some of the most significant.

This video and this video that helps you to understand it better.
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🔔 For more Linkedin ring my bell on Linkedin
Follow #LinkedinByTamas
🟦 Linkedin.com/in/TamasBanki

📱 +36709328054
tamas@tamasbanki.com

🗓 Schedule a meeting:
https://bit.ly/LinkedinConsultation

Marketers, unearth hidden gems within Linkedin groups! But wait, searching comments remains elusive... fret not!

1. Targeted Dive:
Scout relevant groups via the main search bar (keywords & filters are your friends). Dive into the ones aligning with your niche or interest.

2. Post Power:
Unleash the group's search bar (if available) to hunt for specific keywords within posts, titles, and even discussions.

3. Hashtag Hero:
Navigate by topic, category, or hashtags (think #marketingtrends). Engage in relevant threads to connect with fellow marketing wizards.

4. Filter Finesse:
Refine your findings by date, author, or content type – precision is key!

5. Think Outside the Group:
Expand your search! Use advanced options on the main platform to find group members with relevant expertise. Connect directly for targeted insights.*

Remember, active participation is the key to unlocking the true value of these groups. Share your expertise, answer questions, and build a powerful network!


*❌ Unlimited Messaging Within Groups Isn't True Anymore:
Sending messages through groups doesn't bypass Linkedin's messaging limits. You still have a monthly limit based on your account type (Free: 100 connections, Premium: 300, etc.). Exceeding this limit might restrict your messaging ability outside groups.

✅ Group Messages Land in "Message Requests":
Messages sent through groups appear as "Message Requests" for the recipient, not their primary inbox. This might affect their response rate compared to direct InMail.

--

Message requests from group members provide valuable outreach potential, but require a strategic approach to maximize their effectiveness:

1, Be Selective:
Respond only to requests from relevant and engaged group members.
2, Personalize:
Briefly mention your shared group interests and tailor your message to their profile.
3, Offer Value:
Highlight how you can help them or provide insights related to the group.
4, Respect Boundaries:
​Not everyone responds well to unsolicited messages, so be respectful of their preferences.

By combining personalized outreach with engagement within the group, you can convert valuable message requests into genuine connections and meaningful collaborations.

#LinkedinByTamas #LinkedinGroups #MarketingCommunity #Networking #Marketers #Messaging

FYKI, two search:
Hashtag:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/[group-id]/results/content/?keywords=%23this_is_a_hashtag
Not hashtag = Everything else:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/[group-id]/results/content/?keywords=this-isnt-a-hashtag

Think of it this way: when someone checks out your profile, they're knocking on your virtual door. So if you want to welcome them in, you need to send them a friendly message. But don't just say "hey, I want to connect." That's about as exciting as watching paint dry.

No, you've got 300 characters to play with, so make the most of them! Add a little introduction, maybe a link or URL to your website, and show them what you're all about.

If you don't bother sending a message, it's like ignoring the doorbell altogether. Don't be that person! You need to create a 200 characters template that you can personalise with an extra 100 characters or so. Make it feel like a real letter, not some robotic message generated by a computer.
​
Sure, you can use AI to check your grammar and make it sound more professional, but you should always use your own brain to come up with the words.

So, here's what you need to do:

1. Check "Who Viewed Your Profile" a few times a day, especially if you're an active content creator or commenter.
2. Click on their profile, and if you're on mobile, tap the "more" button next to "contact" and choose "personalise invite" from the drop-down menu. Then write your 300 characters of pure genius! If you're on desktop, click "connect" and send a personalised note with your 300 characters.
3. Hit "Submit," and that's it! You've just opened the door to new business opportunities.

If you want to learn more about how to succeed on Linkedin, click on #LinkedinByTamas.

Linkedin allows you to manually prioritise your Activity list, so you can choose to show Events instead of Posts (the default) or Comments. As Comments are the Holy Grail 🏆 on Linkedin, I'd recommend making them the most visible.

CREATOR MODE
If you're in Creator mode, as I am, Linkedin puts Activity and Featured sections before the About section. If you're not in Creator mode, the About and Featured sections are in front of the Activity.

REGULAR MODE
Either way, it's a great step from Linkedin to let us decide what's important. It's always satisfying to know that you've outsmarted the Linkedin Algorithm!

Need a hand with Linkedin? Ask me for free in a 15 min FREE Linkedin Training — https://drlinked.in/15minFree

Sponsored Messaging, Message Ads, and Conversation Ads are all Linkedin Ads built in the Messaging. These advertising options on LinkedIn aim to connect with the target audience directly and increase engagement & conversions.

The difference lies in the type of messages sent. The way in which they communicate with the target audience.

Sponsored Messaging
Allows direct, one-to-one messaging in the audience's LinkedIn inbox. Interactive messages can also be sent, which help interested parties easily find desired content and offers.
🤣 Now you can spam your LinkedIn connections directly! Who says the art of cold-calling is dead?

Message Ads
Allow for targeted messaging with a single CTA through LinkedIn messages, and Lead Gen forms can also be added for direct collection of quality leads on LinkedIn.
🤣 Targeted messaging with a single click? It's like shooting fish in a barrel! Or in this case, leads on LinkedIn.

Conversation Ads
Allow for interactive conversations to be initiated with the target audience, providing a more personalised experience for interested parties. Multi-button CTAs enable visitors to easily access desired content and offers, and Lead Gen forms can also be added for quality lead collection. Conversation Ads also offer deeper insights into audience intent through detailed click reporting.
🤣 Because who wouldn't want a personalised chat with a robot trying to sell them something? At least it's not like talking to your ex.

Note
This type of Linkedin Ads are not available in (neither from, nor to) the EU since January, 2022
🤣 Sorry EU, looks like you'll have to resort to traditional sales tactics like handshakes and phone calls.