Navigating the Shadows: 

A Personal Encounter with Professional Impersonation 

By Mark Misiano

The Incident

I've always taken pride in the integrity and value of the services I provide to those navigating their career paths. A recent unsettling experience – one I’ve come to simply call “The Incident” – brought to light a sinister side of our digital professional landscape: impersonation and scamming.

The unsettling discovery came on an otherwise ordinary afternoon as I conducted a routine check of people who had viewed my LinkedIn profile. I stumbled upon an account that bore an uncanny resemblance to mine… 

The Copycat Profile: 

Someone named “Lisa Olivia” created a LinkedIn page that was not just inspired by mine; it was a blatant copy. My headline, which I had carefully crafted to encapsulate my expertise and value proposition as a résumé writer and career coach, was replicated word for word. The experience section, a detailed account of my journey and achievements in the career services industry, was also duplicated, presenting her as a seasoned professional with a history identical to mine.

False Claims of Affiliation: 

Adding to the deception, this impersonator claimed to work for RésuméReady, LLC, the company I built from the ground up with a commitment to integrity and excellence. She also showcased a non-existent membership in the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches, leveraging the prestige of our community to lend credibility to her scam.

The Services Page: 

Perhaps the most infuriating aspect of this impersonation was the Services Page. It offered résumé writing and career coaching services, promising to help job seekers land their dream jobs. This situation felt like more than impersonation - it was a scheme to defraud unsuspecting job seekers by exploiting the trust and professional standards we uphold in our community.

A Familiar Pattern: 

“The Incident” bore a striking resemblance to a situation encountered by a colleague just a few weeks ago. It went beyond an isolated act of impersonation, and it seems it has become a larger pattern targeting professionals in our field. The realization that this could happen to any one of us made me realize how important it is to be vigilant.

The Response: 

So what could I do? I immediately reported the profile to LinkedIn for impersonation; however, the platform's reporting process felt inadequate, offering no space to explain the complexities of the situation. The impersonator's profile remained active, a lurking threat to the unsuspecting job seekers it aimed to deceive and a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in our digital professional lives.

The Broader Picture and Protective Measures

In the wake of my personal encounter with professional impersonation, I’ve realized that professional social networking has a darker side that can undermine our hard-earned reputations. “The Incident” highlights my own vulnerability and reflects a broader threat to all résumé writers and career coaches. We need to take protective measures against such deceitful practices.

The essence of our work – helping individuals present their best selves to potential employers – is built on trust and authenticity. When scammers impersonate us, they tarnish the credibility of the services we provide. This breach of trust has taught me that we must safeguard our professional identities and the integrity of the career services industry as a whole.

Let’s engage in proactive measures to protect ourselves and our clients from the pitfalls of online impersonation and scams. By fostering a culture of awareness, securing our digital presence, and advocating for stronger protective mechanisms on professional platforms, we can create a more secure environment for our industry. Here are some ways you can protect your profile: 

Vigilant Monitoring: 

Check out who’s viewing your profile and be alert for anyone suspicious or profiles that look too similar to yours.Consider watermarking original content to deter copycats.

Educate Your Network: 

Share knowledge and experiences related to impersonation scams with your network. Awareness is a powerful tool in preventing scams from taking root.

Report and Advocate: 

Beyond reporting impersonations to social media, advocate for more robust reporting tools and processes. Collective voices can drive platforms to offer better protection for their users.

Professional Solidarity: 

Engage with professional organizations such as PARWCC for access to valuable resources, support, and advice when navigating these challenges.

Legal Readiness: 

Understand the legal avenues available to you. In cases of identity theft or copyright infringement, you may want to send a cease and desist letter. Consult with a legal professional if you need to take swift action.

Moving Forward: Strengthening Our Defenses

“The Incident” was an eye-opener for me. It highlighted our industry’s vulnerabilities in an increasingly digital professional landscape and the imperative need to fortify our defenses. As we continue to engage on platforms like LinkedIn, let’s not shy away from creating content that reflects our genuine expertise or from engaging authentically with our audience.We can’t stop a copy/paste situation, but we can establish a digital persona that is distinctly ours to make it harder for impersonators to succeed.