Another "Recruiter" Says They're Not Selling a Service... Until the End
I've seen this pattern enough times that I recognize it almost immediately.
A recruiter reaches out with a "confidential search" for a role that seems tailored to your background. The message is highly personalized, highlighting your experience and accomplishments. It looks legitimate.
So I asked a very direct question:
"Is this a true recruitment opportunity or are you selling a service (resume, career, etc.)?"
The response?
"This is a genuine recruitment opportunity, not a resume, career-coaching, or other paid service offer."
Sounds reassuring... right?
The conversation continued with detailed job descriptions, salary ranges, and responsibilities. Everything appeared legitimate.
Then came the familiar next step.
"Send me your current resume."
If you've followed these scams before, you know what often comes next.
This is where many job seekers eventually hear that their resume "needs work," they're not positioned correctly, or they need help standing out before they can be presented to the employer. That's when the sales pitch begins.
I'm not saying that's what would have happened here—I chose not to continue the conversation before it reached that point. But it follows a pattern I've documented many times.
Another detail that caught my attention was the email address used to contact me.
The recruiter somehow found my moogie14a@aim.com email address—a mailbox I haven't actively used in years. Not exactly the email address I'd expect a professional recruiter to find first.
This is why I encourage every job seeker to ask direct questions early in the conversation.
If someone says they are not selling a service, that's a good start—but don't stop asking questions.
The real concern isn't just wasting time.
The fear is that someone pays hundreds of dollars through PayPal, Zelle, cryptocurrency, Cash App, or another payment method, only to discover they never receive what was promised—or have little chance of recovering their money.
I'll continue documenting these interactions, the tactics being used, and the warning signs so others can recognize them before it's too late.
Follow my blog for additional recruiting scam investigations, screenshots, and real-world examples:
Stay skeptical.
Ask questions.
Verify everything.
Trust your instincts.
Another Day, Another LinkedIn "Recruiting" Scam
At this point, I'm starting to wonder...
Do I have a mark on my forehead?
This time it was Eman Saber, who claimed to be a Hiring Manager | Corporate Recruiting | Kleiner Perkins.
A quick look at the profile raised questions. The experience listed was extremely limited, and the employment timeline appeared to overlap with another role. Despite claiming to represent Kleiner Perkins, the profile also referenced TABSEER COMPANY, which didn't align with the recruiting message.
Then came the familiar script:
- An unsolicited executive opportunity.
- Generic praise about my "extensive experience."
- A request to move the conversation off LinkedIn to WhatsApp or Microsoft Teams Users Group.
I've seen this pattern too many times.
The scammers need to do better.
Has anyone else noticed an increase in these fake recruiter accounts? I don't even have the #OpenToWork banner enabled, yet they keep finding me.
Stay skeptical. Ask for a job description. Verify who they represent. And don't leave LinkedIn until you've confirmed you're dealing with a legitimate recruiter.
Follow along on NielFlamm.com/blog.
Is It Really a Recruiter... or a Sales Pitch?
Have you ever been contacted by a recruiter with an "exclusive opportunity" that wasn't posted anywhere?
I was.
What happened next raised more red flags with every message.
The conversation moved from LinkedIn to Microsoft Teams, questions went unanswered, and what appeared to be a recruiting opportunity took a very different turn.
If you're actively looking for your next role, you need to know what to watch for before you invest your time—or your money.
I break down the entire interaction, the warning signs, and what happened next in this video.
🎥 Watch here: https://nielflamm.com/videos/scams
The Scammer Actually Replied
I thought the story was over after I sent a scammer a fake resume and cover letter.
I was wrong.
Not only did they reply, they reviewed my completely fictional credentials, offered improvement suggestions, and even proposed professional resume services.
You can watch the teaser here, but the full story — including the fake resume, fake cover letter, and the responses I received — is on my website.
Go to NielFlamm.com → Videos → Scam
Or visit:
Ang recruiter email na parang may mali
Noong Linggo ng gabi, nakatanggap ako ng recruiter email tungkol sa isang Learning & Development opportunity.
Propesyonal.
Personalized.
May LinkedIn profile pa.
At oo… sumagot ako.
Pero may kakaibang pakiramdam.
Ang mga sumunod kong natuklasan ay nagbigay ng seryosong tanong tungkol sa recruiter scams, resume harvesting, at personal information mining na tumatarget sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho.
At Scott Leonardis — salamat sa pagiging mabait at propesyonal sa buong usapan.
Panoorin muna ang teaser video na ito… pagkatapos pumunta sa page para makita kung paano nangyari ang lahat at kung ano ang natutunan ko: