by
Guest Contributor
August 6, 2025
After I got scammed, one of the hardest realizations to swallow was that I had accidentally helped the scammer do it. Not on purpose, of course, but through the digital breadcrumbs I’d left across the internet. A post here, a comment there, a new job announcement that I was excited to share — all of it gave the scammer exactly what they needed to build their story, impersonate my boss, and take $5,000 from me.
Before that moment, I hadn’t given much thought to the tradeoff between visibility and vulnerability online. Like most people, I saw visibility as a good thing: a way to network, promote my work, celebrate wins, and stay connected. But what I didn’t realize was how much I was exposing just by participating in those seemingly ordinary moments online.
LinkedIn offers a professional space where you can present the best version of yourself without revealing too much of your personal life or the messy digital history that lives on other platforms.
Posting regularly is a great way to keep your existing network in the loop with what you’re up to and reach new people to grow your network. LinkedIn surfaces posts to second- and third-degree connections, making you more discoverable and increasing the chances of being seen by potential collaborators, hiring managers, or peers across your industry. Just showing up can build credibility over time and give others a clear sense of who you are and what you’re about. Even something as simple as sharing the upcoming conferences you’re attending can lead to impromptu meetups, new introductions, and unexpected opportunities.
Staying active helps keep you top of mind, but like any online activity, there’s often more to be inferred from what you post than you might realize. Whether it’s your location, employer, or personal views, these small details can add up and in the wrong hands, be costly.
When I started my internship this summer, I was proud, so I posted about it, as most people do. That single post told the scammer where I worked, what I did, who I likely reported to, and that I was new and probably eager to impress. Within days, I got a message that looked like it came from my boss. You know how the rest goes.
This kind of scam isn’t rare. It’s part of a larger pattern of social engineering attacks that target people at different points in the job-seeking cycle, from fake recruiters who scam hopeful candidates out of money, to post-hire gift card scams like mine.
It goes beyond LinkedIn, but the common thread is that these scams use information that’s publicly available across the platforms we use to construct their attacks, and their tactics are only getting more polished.
After this happened to me, I thought delaying new job posts might be the new LinkedIn equivalent of the classic advice: only post photos somewhere after you’ve left. Whether it’s a personal milestone, a casual update, or a professional win, it’s easy to focus on what we mean to share and overlook what we’re unintentionally revealing.
That’s why it’s important to weigh the tradeoffs – what could someone infer from this post, and is it worth the exposure?
Is it helpful to share that you’ll be at an event next week to connect with others in person? Or is it safer to post a recap after you’re home? These are the kinds of decisions that depend on your personal threat model and what you’re ultimately comfortable with being out there.
The solution isn’t to disappear; I’m still online, I’m just more intentional about how I show up. There will always be tradeoffs to our online activity, but understanding what we’re actually revealing gives us the power to make smarter, safer choices.
If you’re wondering where to start, Block Party offers platform-specific checklists for 12+ platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, and X (Twitter) that don’t just tell you what to change, but explain what it means, what’s at stake, and how to tailor your settings based on your goals, values, and threat model.
At the end of the day, the goal is to make sure you’re only sharing what you mean to — and nothing more.
