Don't Get it Twisted; This is Phishing

I don't mean to call you out, Remote.com. But I'm calling you out. Putting you on blast. Throwing you under the bus. I saw "Ex Machina." You can't fool me that easily.

Now, I'm a sucker for AI as much as the next girl. I love getting email from robots...much more than from inside-sales reps who misspell my name (I'll save that rant for some other time). So, when I got the above email from Remote.com, I was naturally intrigued.

Remote.com is a job-search website (that's not why I was intrigued, by the way...in case my boss is reading this) that lists jobs that are 100% remote (hence the name). I'm sure I signed up with them at one time or another (but not recently, as I mentioned, boss--I swear). Yesterday, I received an email from Remote that was openly bot-generated, offering to automatically populate my profile and "network" on Remote.com if I downloaded my LinkedIn data file and sent it to them. This was the intriguing part, because I had no idea what my LinkedIn data file was or what it might contain.

I followed the link and discovered that downloading my LinkedIn data file doesn't just involve exporting my profile as a resume, which was what it sounded like. It would download my profile, my entire network, as well as any messages I had exchanged with my contacts.

In other words, Remote.com was soliciting me to willingly hand over a list of all of my connections and my confidential messages. WTH?

Bad robot. Bad.

In case it's not obvious, this is a major breach. My connections on LinkedIn are my trusted network. I don't accept connection requests from anyone I find to be the least bit suspicious (or whom I suspect is poised to solicit me). I wouldn't think of handing over these connections to anyone, especially not to a robot from some website I have barely heard of. Likewise, I'd be incensed if someone handed over my name/position/experience/contact information to anyone --.especially if the data download included messages I had exchanged with them. Poor form all around.

This is a cautionary tale. If you receive a similar email from Remote.com or anyone else, do not (I repeat, do NOT) download your LinkedIn data file and send it to them. It might not be in the same league as sharing your social security number with a stranger, but it's on the spectrum.

Yeah, this is a public shaming. To be fair, I responded to "Kira Roboz" with this same message the minute I realized what "she" was up to. But I feel obligated to share this info with my trusted network to let you know that I would never hand over your information to anyone. Nor would I share our messages.

I'd respectfully ask the same of you.

Remote.com, I invite you to comment on this post with any response you feels justifies your request. And colleagues, and friends, I'd love to hear your opinion on whether you think I'm spot on or overreacting.

Best, Brianna