What happens every time I post a new resume on LinkedIn?

Tl;dr: I was approached by scammers with a fake offer to perform work as part of an application. Fortunately for me I figured it out before I invested any time or money. I'm posting this here to warn others who may be caught up in the same scam. Be very careful in the days after you upload a new resume to LinkedIn: that is how they found me.

I saw a role the other day on LinkedIn that looked interesting. It was an innovation role for a device manufacturer. Given my long background in device-based industries and delivery of 'first'-style rollouts, I thought I should apply. So I cranked up ChatGPT and punched out a resume targeted at that job description, uploaded the new resume to LinkedIn, and hit the apply button.

That is when the fun began.

Red Flag #1

Dear Malcolm Stanley,
Thank you for your recent application for the Innovation Manager position. We are pleased to inform you that your application was received through our esteemed affiliate, who has shared your resume with us as part of our collaborative recruitment process.

After reviewing your credentials, we would like to invite you to participate in the next stage of our selection process, which comprises an interview and an assessment test. This is an opportunity for us to explore your qualifications further and discuss your potential fit within our team.

Upon your confirmation of interest, you will receive a detailed follow-up email containing comprehensive information about Cupertino Electric, Inc., our company culture, the job description, as well as details regarding compensation and benefits.

Please let us know your availability for the interview at your earliest convenience so we can schedule accordingly.

We look forward to your response and to the possibility of welcoming you to our team.

Best regards,
Nick Chavez
Exp HR professional
Cupertino Electric, Inc.

I'm sad to say, I missed the first red flag right off the bat: do you see it in the screen cap?

I had some questions, but whatever. I've not had a good job for a while. I looked up Cupertino Electric and they seemed legit. so I responded:

Thanks for reaching out. Is there a specific role you would like to consider me for? I am currently resident in Philadelphia and will not be able to relocate, so any role would need to be primarily remote. Please let me know if that would be an issue. 

Red Flag #2

A day or two later, at 6:19PM on a Friday night, I got this very lengthy response:

Thank you for your email.We are excited about the potential impact you can bring to Cupertino Electric, Inc. as a Remote Innovation Manager. Your skills and insights could be transformative, and we can't wait to explore the opportunities together. We’re delighted you’re interested in Cupertino Electric, Inc. and look forward to getting to know you.We’d like to schedule your written assessment for the Remote Innovation Manager role. This email includes the assessment details and confirms your readiness to participate. This assessment offers a valuable opportunity to demonstrate and further develop your innovation leadership skills, showcasing how your unique approach can drive impactful innovations at Cupertino Electric, Inc.The assessment is an important step to evaluate your skills and approach. It is not a pass-or-fail test and helps us understand your strengths and areas for growth.You will receive the assessment by email and need to send your completed test within the given timeframe. Results guide our decision and your onboarding, and feedback is provided to all participants. 

About Cupertino Electric, Inc.
Cupertino Electric, Inc. (CEI) provides electrical engineering and construction solutions nationwide from its San Jose, California headquarters. Since its founding in 1954, CEI has expanded from a local business to one of the largest specialty contractors in the United States, focusing on complex projects in the energy, data center, and commercial sectors. Our experience and scale deliver enhanced reliability, faster project completion, and cost efficiencies, making CEI a trusted partner for clients seeking to achieve their strategic goals.

Building a Sustainable Future- Through Quanta Services’ Annual Sustainability Report, our efforts contribute to a broader commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) excellence, with our people recognized as a key part of the “employee” pillar.

At CEI, we contribute to this impact by:
Community Investment: Reporting our annual community spend and partnering with organizations that strengthen the places where we live and work.
Volunteering: Tracking employee volunteer hours and initiatives that support local needs.
Sustainable Operations: We monitor and reduce our energy, water, and resource use while preventing waste and pollution. In 2023, CEI reduced overall energy consumption by 15% through the strategic implementation of energy-efficient technologies and practices across our operations.

 Remote Innovation Manager  - Job Description
Cupertino Electric, Inc., a leader in electrical contracting, seeks an Innovation Manager to drive strategic innovation and shape the future of electrical construction. Lead our innovation initiatives by identifying new technologies and implementing solutions to enhance operations, safety, and client value—remotely.

What You’ll Do

Drive Innovation Strategy
* Develop and lead an innovation roadmap aligned with company goals, clearly outlining how each initiative will enhance efficiency, safety, or client satisfaction.
* Spot technologies and trends impacting our business.
* Lead cross-functional innovation teams to pilot and scale new solutions.

Champion New Technologies
* Adopt and assess advanced prefabrication, BIM, automation, and intelligent systems.
* Partner with technology vendors and industry leaders to stay ahead of the curve
* Assess ROI and business impact of innovation initiatives.

Foster Innovation Culture
* Design programs that inspire innovation at every level.
* Create channels for employees to submit and develop innovative ideas.
* Coach teams on design thinking and agile practices.

Collaborate Across the Organization
* Collaborate widely to spot field opportunities.
* Align innovation with business strategy alongside leadership.
* Communicate innovation outcomes and success stories to stakeholders.

What You Bring

Required:
* 5+ years of experience in innovation management, product development, or related roles
* Proven track record of successfully implementing innovative solutions that drive measurable business results
* Strong understanding of emerging technologies and digital transformation trends
* Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
* Outstanding communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels

Preferred:
* Background in construction, electrical contracting, engineering, or related technical field
* Experience with construction technology platforms (BIM, project management software, IoT solutions)
* Knowledge of electrical systems, prefabrication, or modular construction
* Certification in innovation methodologies (Design Thinking, Lean Innovation, etc.)
* MBA or advanced degree in engineering, technology management, or related field

Total Rewards:1- Competitive salary ranging from $57 - $73 per hour and performance-based bonuses.2- A comprehensive rewards package including a $700 training bonus and a $15,000 sign-on bonus.3- Flexible working hours and a remote-friendly culture with regular check-ins and team bonding activities.4- Opportunity to work on innovative projects with a talented team, driving the future of our industries.5- We are deeply committed to your professional development and growth, offering numerous opportunities for you to learn and advance in your career. We believe in investing in our employees and providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Your growth is our priority.6- Access to industry tools and resources.7- H1B visa sponsorship. Written Assessment Schedule:Date and Time frame: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11 a.m. to Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 11 p.m. CT. That's a full 82 hours to work at your pace, giving you ample flexibility to complete the assessment alongside your existing commitments.
     
We respect your time and have designed the schedule to be as flexible as possible. You will receive your assessment via email starting at 11 am Central Time on Saturday, January 31, 2026, after we receive your response. You have until 11:00 pm Central Time on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, to submit your answers, giving you ample time to prepare and complete the test at your convenience.
Written Assessment Instructions:The assessment test includes behavioral and technical questions, situational judgment questions, and a personality test, designed to understand your unique experience. Example question types include technical exercises and behavioral questions that assess your approach to teamwork and problem-solving.Most applicants finish in about five hours cumulatively within the time frame, which is about the length of two feature films. This sets clear expectations and helps you plan your schedule accordingly. Your perspective is highly valued and will bring a fresh outlook to our team, aligning with our company values and goals. Step 1: Read and understand all the instructions in this email.
Step 2: Block out a suitable time, typically a cumulative 5-6 hours within the time frame scheduled above, to complete your assessment test.
Step 3: Reply to this email to confirm your readiness to take the assessment test. Your confirmation should include:- Your full name- Your location- Confirmation of your readiness Once we receive your confirmation, we will email you the assessment questions. After you receive them, complete the test and email your answers by the deadline specified above. If you need extra time, notify us as soon as possible to discuss alternative arrangements. Important Action: Please add this email to your contacts so you do not miss any of our emails and ensure a smooth hiring process. If you encounter any scheduling conflicts and need to adjust the assessment test timeframe, please let us know. We understand your time is valuable, and we are committed to partnering with you to design a schedule that respects your commitments and priorities. Your comfort and sense of belonging are of the utmost importance to us. Important note: We will send the assessment test only to candidates who follow the instructions above. We’re eager to see your perspective and will be in touch with the next steps. We are excited about the potential contributions you could bring to our team and are eager to explore how your skills and experiences can help us achieve our mission.Together, we envision launching groundbreaking innovations that set new industry standards, helping propel Cupertino Electric, Inc. and our partners to new heights of success. Best regards,

Nick Chavez
Exp HR professional
Cupertino Electric, Inc.

The thing that struck me about this email was that it was trying to create a sense of urgency, as if I had to respond right away or I would somehow miss out. That was red flag #2.

Red Flag #3

I should also say that I have been spending a lot of time with ChatGPT and Claude in creative environments lately and my overwhelming impression is that AI is way to wordy when it gets to writing things for you. You really have to lock down the length you want or it will write war and peace on the way to a simple thank you reply letter.

So maybe that was red flag #3.

Trust But Verify

It just did not sit right. The last time I had an opportunity like this, that was a little too good to be true and little to urgent to ignore, I narrowly missed being scammed out of $500, only because the scammers were just a little too eager to take my money.

I googled the opportunity and could not find it, either on the company website, or in google as an obvious scam. The absence of data one way or another was confusing. Being confused is, counterintuitively, my most effective state of being, and this helped me understand what I needed to do.

Finally, around 10 that night, I went snooping around LinkedIn and found someone at Cupertino Electric with some mutuals and sent them this note:

You don’t know me.
A few days ago I got an unsolicited email about a role at Cupertino electric. I replied as interested and today got a long email asking me to perform a 5 hour set of tasks over a period of time starting tomorrow morning.
Seemed pretty sudden, especially as no one has reached out to talk to me.
So now I am suspicious.
I am messaging you because LinkedIn will let me do that.
Can you confirm the following?
- Nick Chavez is a recruiter for Cupertino Electric?
- There is a Remote Innovation Manager role which is open that you are hiring for?
- it is your practice to ask people to perform work via email without ever speaking with them?
If yes, great, just wanted to know.
If not, well, someone is using your company name to scam people and I just wanted you to know…

Thanks for reading this far.
Let me know what you think is going on.

Then, the next morning, I sent this reply:

Thank you for your message. Before we continue I would like to validate that this is a genuine opportunity. How can we accomplish that together so I can continue with you knowing the opportunity is being presented in good faith?
Please let me know how you would like to proceed.

Later I received this response to my LinkedIn inquiry:

Thanks for reaching out and unfortunately, we've been getting a number of these inquiries re: this spoofing email.

We do NOT have anyone by the name of Nick Chavez here nor are we looking for an Innovation Manager.

We've alerted our legal and IT team and apologies for any inconvenience.

I have received no response to my last email asking how I can validate the opportunity.

What I have taken away from all this:

• Uploading a new resume to LinkedIn is the equivalent to sending a text message to every employment scammer on the Internet saying 'Take a run at me." Someone somewhere will take that bait. Every single time.
• The absence of a scam report somewhere on google does not mean the opportunity is real. Sometimes you are the one who has to write the scam report warning everyone else, like I am doing here right now.
• Confusion is good: it tells you to stop and understand. Listen to that signal: it will save you from great pain.

I write this in the hopes that someone else in the same situation googles their email and finds this account, avoiding financial loss. Sadly, the damage to our faith in humanity will probably never be repaired.