Email phishing attacks that use the LinkedIn brand have increased by 232% since 1 February, 2022, research has revealed.
The attacks tend to use display name spoofing and stylised HTML templates to socially engineer victims into clicking on phishing links and then entering their credentials into fraudulent websites, according to cyber security firm Egress.
The emails use targeted subject lines associated with LinkedIn, including “You appeared in 4 searches this week” or “You have 1 new message”. The emails contain the LinkedIn logo and brand colours, as well as using other well-known organisation names, like American Express, to make the attacks more convincing.
When clicked, the phishing links send the victim to a website that harvests their LinkedIn log-in credentials, according to the research.
Current employment trends are making these kinds of attacks more convincing, with the research citing how “The Great Resignation” continues to dominate headlines as a record number of US citizens left their jobs in 2021 for new opportunities.
“It is likely these phishing attacks aim to capitalise on jobseekers (plus curious individuals) by flattering them into believing their profile is being viewed and their experience is relevant to household brands,” Egress stated in its report.
Although the display name is always LinkedIn and the emails follow a similar pattern, they are sent from different webmail addresses.
The security company said that it’s unknown whether these attacks are the work of one cyber criminal or a gang operating together. However, most targets are companies in North America and the UK, operating across a variety of industries.
Egress advised that individuals should take extreme caution when reading notification emails that request them to click on a hyperlink, especially on mobile devices. It recommends hovering over links before clicking on them to ensure they are going to a trusted source, and going directly to LinkedIn to check for messages and updates.
Last month, DHL overtook Microsoft as the most frequently mimicked brand for phishing attacks, accounting for 23% of all phishing attempts. Microsoft accounted for only 20% of all attempts, down from 29% the previous quarter. LinkedIn came fifth in the rankings, accounting for 8% of all phishing attempts.
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