Even the best candidates know they have to wait forever to find a job in certain fields. But sometimes, unexpectedly, many of them receive tons of offers, from fake identities pretending to be companies or headhunters. Fake job ads are spreading at an alarming rate, aided by AI that makes it easier to assemble credible ads. Candidates are then tricked into providing personal information, which leads to identity theft. The timing of these scams is particularly unfortunate. Many candidates are starting to use AI to post hundreds of applications at the same time, and at the same time, companies are reporting problems with their protection systems, which don't always lead to contacting the best candidates. LinkedIn said it closed 86 million fake accounts last year. The best solution seems to be to step back in time and go back to networking. So it's necessary to talk to hiring managers in person, even online, but in a way that scammers can't use. Experienced recruiters know that these professional networks, along with word of mouth, are invaluable to their efforts, and it’s interesting to note that despite advances in technology, people are returning to doing their research the way they once did, through friends or trusted, personal contacts.