Legal information notice: this article provides general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer.
A LinkedIn profile using your name, photo, and career details — sometimes copied almost word-for-word from your real profile — can be used to scam recruiters, connections, or job seekers who trust it precisely because it looks so convincingly like you. Here’s how to get it removed and what legal recourse is available.
A fake professional profile using your identity can trigger the same core IT Act provisions as any other impersonation: Section 66C for identity theft (dishonestly using your identifying features), and Section 66D for cheating by personation if it’s used to defraud anyone. Because LinkedIn profiles often carry professional and financial credibility, the potential for real harm to job seekers or business contacts tends to be higher than a typical social media impersonation.
Screenshot the full profile — photo, headline, experience section, and connections shown — along with its exact URL before it can be altered or taken down by the impersonator themselves.
On the fake profile, click the “More” icon (three dots) near the top, select “Report/Block,” and in the pop-up choose “This person is impersonating someone” as the reason — this routes to LinkedIn’s dedicated impersonation review process. LinkedIn does not tell the reported profile who filed the report.
If the fake profile is sending connection requests or messages to people who know you, post an update or message key contacts directly to alert them.
Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 if anyone was defrauded (e.g. a “placement fee” scam) using the fake profile.
For cases involving real reputational or financial damage, a formal legal notice to an identified perpetrator can be an effective escalation.
Since LinkedIn profiles carry professional credibility, a fake profile impersonating you is often used specifically to target job seekers with fake “placement guaranteed” schemes — if you learn of anyone who lost money to a profile impersonating you, document their case too, since it strengthens the overall complaint significantly.
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| A deliberate fake using your photo/details to deceive others | Report as impersonation, escalate if fraud occurred |
| An old profile you forgot to deactivate, with outdated info | This is your own account — simply update or deactivate it yourself |
| A profile for someone who genuinely shares your name (not your photo) | Likely not impersonation — verify before reporting |
No. Reporting to LinkedIn and on cybercrime.gov.in are both free.
Yes, for reporting and removal. A lawyer becomes relevant for a formal legal notice or if the impersonation caused significant professional or financial harm.
Need professional legal help with this?
Find a Lawyer on VidyodayThis is the same underlying identity-theft issue that shows up across every platform — see our broader guide on identity theft in India, and our guide on fake Facebook profiles for the equivalent process on that platform.
The core issue is the same, but the professional credibility LinkedIn carries means fake profiles are more often used specifically to target job seekers or business contacts with financial scams.
Yes — LinkedIn’s reporting process doesn’t require you to identify the creator; you’re reporting that the profile falsely represents you.
This significantly strengthens your case — file on cybercrime.gov.in specifically noting the fraud, and encourage any affected job seekers to file their own complaints too.
Verification requirements have varied and increased over time, but a determined impersonator can still create a fake profile, which is why reporting remains necessary.
This varies by case, but impersonation reports are generally treated as a priority category given the platform’s professional-identity focus.
Yes — platform removal and legal action are separate; you can still pursue a complaint or legal notice against an identified perpetrator even after the profile is taken down.
This adds a civil dimension to your case — consult a lawyer about pursuing a defamation or reputational-harm claim alongside any criminal complaint.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Platform reporting processes can change — verify current steps on LinkedIn’s official Help Center and consult a lawyer for guidance specific to your situation.
