Photo by 8 verthing on Unsplash
This all started after a post I shared on LinkedIn.
I was reflecting on the strange, unpredictable job market we’re all navigating.
I expected a few reactions. Instead, I got a flood of messages offering services. Resume rewrites, LinkedIn makeovers, visibility hacks, personal branding systems.
Their tone? Friendly, empathetic, polished.
“I’ve been where you are.”
“The job market’s broken.”
“Let me help you stand out quickly.”
They weren’t recruiters.
They were salespeople packaging support as strategy.
And that’s when it hit me:
It’s not all bad. Some services genuinely help.
But when every post about struggle triggers a pitch, we cross into a dangerous zone, especially for those emotionally and mentally stretched.
Emotional Phishing Isn’t Just a Scam Email
In cybersecurity, we teach people to spot phishing:
- Suspicious links
- Spoofed emails
- Urgency designed to override logic
But there’s another kind of phishing:
Emotional phishing, and it’s everywhere.
When someone reaches out in your moment of transition and says:
“Let me fix your resume.”
Or
“Only $149 for guaranteed traction.”
Or
“I can guarantee you more interviews.”
Or
“Forget generic templates, we offer custom solutions.”
Or
“I know the hidden formula recruiters want”
It feels like help.
But it often follows the same formula:
- Identify vulnerability
- Mirror your pain
- Create urgency
- Offer the “solution”
- Extract value
It’s not a technical scam, but it is a psychological exploit.
It’s Not That These Services Are Bad…
If you’re new to job searching, having a professional look at your resume is smart.
A solid LinkedIn profile matters. Visibility tools can work.
But not everyone needs a full rebrand.
The danger lies in the never-ending optimization loop.
You know the cycle:
- Put your resume into AI; it polishes it.
- Put polished resume back into AI; it polishes it again.
- Someone offers to take it “to the next level.”
- Another tool says it still scores low on ATS; rinse and repeat.
At some point, ask yourself:
What am I really fixing?
Because tweaking isn’t the same as moving forward.
Feedback without finish lines just keeps you stuck.
Personal Cybersecurity: Vulnerabilities You Can’t Patch with Software
We focus so much on endpoint security, MFA, and firewalls that we forget the most exploited asset: the human.
Our minds, when vulnerable, become prime targets for digital predators.
Here’s how that plays out in everyday life:
- Career “fixers” charging $149: They don’t know you, but they mirror your pain to bypass logic. It’s emotional phishing disguised as career advice, preying on job insecurity.
- “Refund recovery” scams: You lose money once, then someone targets you because you’ve already been a victim, promising to get your money back for an upfront fee.
- Fake recruiter offers with $299 assessments: There is no job; it’s just phishing dressed professionally, designed to extract money from desperate job seekers.
- Guilt-based help requests: “I’m struggling. Can you book a $75 session to support me?” Sometimes real, but often a form of emotional manipulation that exploits empathy.
- Too good to be true “clearance” sales: These often harvest your data and credit card info under false pretenses, using urgency and unbelievable deals to rush you.
- “Unpaid package delivery” scams: You get a text or email about a package that needs a small “shipping fee” or “customs payment.” Click the link, and you’re giving away your financial details or downloading malware.
- Urgent “tax problem” or “government impersonation” calls/emails: You’re threatened with arrest or fines if you don’t immediately pay a supposed overdue tax bill or fine. The urgency and authority figures are designed to induce panic and bypass critical thinking.
- “Tech support” pop ups or calls: A message appears claiming your computer is infected, or someone calls pretending to be from a major tech company. They demand remote access to your computer and payment for fixing non existent issues.
- Romance scams: Long term emotional manipulation where a fake online persona builds trust and affection, only to later request money for emergencies, travel, or medical bills.
- Investment scams promising guaranteed high returns: Whether it’s fake crypto schemes or “get rich quick” forex trading, these prey on hopes for financial security, often through pressure and fabricated success stories.
We Patch Systems. We Need to Patch Ourselves Too.
You don’t need a CISSP to know when something feels like social engineering.
Whether it’s malware or a well crafted DM, the exploit pattern is the same: find the vulnerability and take control.
In IT, patching fixes vulnerabilities and keeps systems resilient.
But people don’t get patched like software.
When we’re hit with layoffs, rejections, or anxiety, we run on outdated beliefs:
- I’m not good enough.
- I need a perfect profile.
- Maybe this service will finally help.
These are unpatched vulnerabilities, easy to exploit.
The Real Human Firewall
To protect ourselves, we need:
- Boundaries as firewalls
- Discernment as encryption
- Self worth as intrusion detection
Ask:
“Is this genuine help or just urgency dressed as support?”
This question can save you far more than money.
Because the next wave of exploits won’t come through ransomware.
They’ll come through DMs, polished messages, and offers that feel too relatable.
You Don’t Always Have to Pay to Get Help
Not everyone can afford pricey services, and you don’t always have to.
Nonprofits, government programs, community groups, and LinkedIn communities offer:
- Free resume reviews
- Job search coaching
- Networking
- Profile clinics
- Emotional support
Often run by experienced pros who want to help, not sell.
If someone truly believes in their value, they’ll meet you where you are, not pressure you when you’re vulnerable.
Final Thought
I’m not against career services. Some provide real value.
But leadership starts with discernment.
If you’re told you’re “not enough” without paying, that’s your signal to pause.
Cybersecurity doesn’t fail at the firewall.
It fails at the human layer.
So yes, patch your systems.
But more importantly, patch yourself.
Because in 2025, cybersecurity isn’t just digital.
It’s deeply human.
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