The Center for Intercultural Dialogue’s LinkedIn group has suddenly been besieged with dozens of questionable requests for membership each day.
Typically, there are several new member requests to join that group each day. These have been increasing over the last few weeks, until yesterday there were over 50, so something is very odd.
It is not entirely clear what the goal of fake profiles asking to join the group might be. LinkedIn has promised to investigate, but in the meantime I’ve been advised that this is probably some sort of scam, likely an attempt to get information about those who are legitimately part of the LinkedIn group. As a result, I am going to deny new member requests that seem at all questionable. I have also been going back to delete all potentially fake profiles (most of these provide minimal information, which goes against the whole point of a LinkedIn profile).
If you are a real person with an abbreviated profile who wants to be let in to the group over the next month or two, please send a message, stating who you are, why you are interested in joining the group, and providing the URL to your LinkedIn profile. I will then add you to the group manually.
Similarly, if you were added over the past few weeks since this started, but then discover that you have been deleted from the group, you are welcome to send a message asking to be reinstated – just provide the same information – who you are, and why you want to join. My apologies that this is necessary. And more apologies to anyone who I inappropriately deny membership.
Anyone who has had a similar experience with another LinkedIn group is invited to write and tell me what happened in that case. I am very curious about who is trying to attempt what here.
Wendy Leeds-Hurwitz, Director
Center for Intercultural Dialogue
Update as of August 19:
Out of 421 requests in 3 weeks, LinkedIn deleted 117 as fake accounts, but they move slowly. Today I got impatient, and went through those remaining. I approved 26 as likely legitimate, and denied 278 as likely fake. So far, only 1 person has written to be requesting to be let into the group, but if I have denied you access inappropriately, please write in and briefly say why you wish to join the group. Be sure to include the URL of your LinkedIn page – many names are duplicates, and it can be difficult to locate the correct profile.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 