Overthinking the whole fake LinkedIn profile deal
[QUOTE=HornedLaw;5141677]Not the OP here, but I feel that a fake LinkedIn isn't the problem here. It's having the fake profile match the name on the other forms of identification you're providing. So either you have a full set of fake IDs setup for this or you'll have a LinkedIn account with a different name on the photo I'd you provide them. If it's on its own, the fake profile may work but in conjunction with other things it would be more difficult tying the profile's name to your I'd's name.[/QUOTE]Since it was my post that got the ball rolling on this topic, thought I'd chime in with a few follow-up comments.
First, to do a good job at it would absolutely require an investment in time and creativity. It might also require some trial and error, by which I mean ditching a profile that didn't satisfy you and trying again. For mongers who are fine with providers who don't require verification at all, or minimal verification (like provider references), this wouldn't make sense.
Second, a fake LinkedIn account certainly isn't going to work for any provider with an over-the-top verification process that requires the monger to provide multiple sources of PII. It would only work for providers who are somewhere in the middle of the verification spectrum. Also, as we've all experienced, the verification process is its own negotiation of sorts. Sometimes a provider wants to make the appt but needs a little something, like some kind of work-related info, to raise her comfort level. By combining hobby phone + hobby email + hobby name + hobby LinkedIn, you would hopefully pass that level of screening. Every situation will be different and even the same provider might be inconsistent, but it's a bargaining chip you wouldn't otherwise have.
Third, it's a personal cost-benefit analysis, mostly in terms of the time and effort involved, that everyone needs to evaluate for themselves. It's not the Holy Grail of verification, but it could help someone see a provider who would otherwise be out of reach. Just another potential tool in the mongering toolbox, not necessarily suitable for every situation, but nice to know it's there.
As I said in my initial post, I'm not personally going down this path but I thought it was an interesting idea and wanted to share the discussion from the other forum because it contained useful details from a monger who has used it successfully. It also occurs to me that, once set up, such a profile would probably require very little maintenance. Also, once someone figured out the learning curve to do it once, repeating the process would probably be a piece of cake.
Good luck, happy hunting, and stay safe!
