Inside LinkedIn’s Shadow Economy: The Hidden Industry of Fake Influence and What It’s Costing Businesses

The LinkedIn Illusion: Where Credibility Meets Contrivance

It starts with a viral leadership post—neatly written, emotionally resonant, 50,000 likes. The author? The author, a self-declared “growth strategist,” boasts C-suite credentials and a stellar client roster.

They look real. They sound real. But behind the curtain of professional polish lies something murky.

I’ve spent years studying how to build, manipulate, and sell influence as a former military and diplomatic intelligence operative turned podcast professional.

And what I see on LinkedIn today should concern every CEO, investor, and hiring manager.

While LinkedIn champions authenticity and professional transparency, a parallel industry has quietly flourished—one that monetizes perception, not expertise.

Likes, followers, comments—even though leadership itself—can now be bought, ghostwritten, or artificially inflated to manufacture a persona that simply isn’t real.

This isn’t just unethical. It’s dangerous. And it’s costing companies more than they realize.

The Rise of the Creator Economy—and Its Consequences

The introduction of Creator Mode by LinkedIn in 2021 marked a significant milestone.

With it came newsletters, live events, increased visibility, and the promise of influence-as-a-career. Over 140 million users now publish content on the platform monthly.

But where visibility becomes currency, manipulation inevitably follows.

For many professionals, the pressure to stand out—to be visible, followed, and “in-demand”—has driven them to artificial engagement strategies. Some are subtle.

Others are alarmingly systemic.

The Underground Infrastructure of LinkedIn Influence

A shadow ecosystem now supports what I call synthetic authority on LinkedIn. Here’s how it works:

Bot-Powered Engagement Services

• A quick search reveals vendors offerings:
• 1,000 LinkedIn likes for $39
• 500 AI-generated comments for $79
• 10,000 followers for just $120

These services often use VPN masking, browser emulators, and fake accounts to mimic organic engagement. The growth appears “natural”—but it’s entirely orchestrated.

Automation Tools Posing as Lead Gen

Tools like Linked Helper, Expandi, and Zopto automate mass connection requests, comments, likes, and even DMs at scale.

While banned by LinkedIn, they remain widely used, repackaged as “outreach” or “funnel optimization.”

Engagement Pods: The Echo Chamber Effect

Private pods—often hosted on Telegram or Slack—coordinate likes and comments within minutes of posting. These coordinated blasts trick the algorithm into thinking a post is trending. Some charge fees: others run on reciprocity. The result is a digital illusion of popularity.

Ghost-writing: The Polished Persona

Here’s the quiet part no one says aloud: many of the most “inspirational” executives on LinkedIn don’t write their posts.

Ghost-writing agencies charge $500 to $3,000/month to craft entire personal brands—complete with storytelling arcs, carousel graphics, and strategic post timing.

Clients include consultants, coaches, and Fortune 500 VPs. The illusion? They appear to be casually sharing their wisdom over a cup of coffee.

Case Studies: When Influence Backfires

Case 1: The Viral “Growth Hacker”

A marketing consultant grew from 20K to 250K followers in just six months. Trending posts, partnerships, and a digital course followed. But an independent audit showed 80% of engagement came from inactive or fake accounts. Once flagged, the account’s visibility decreased, leading to a loss of trust among their clients.

Case 2: The Ghostwritten Exec

A Reddit whistleblower revealed they ghostwrote posts for 120+ CEOs. One post went viral—then appeared, nearly word-for-word, under three different profiles. One client, a Fortune 500 executive, faced board scrutiny and issued a public apology. The brand damage was immediate.

The Ethical Minefield of Manufactured Influence

Some practices—like hiring a ghostwriter—can be ethical, even essential, for time-poor executives. However, deception becomes evident when one fabricates influence instead of earning it.

When leaders pay for fake likes or publish ghostwritten thought leadership with no disclosure, it builds a false image of expertise. For audiences, that’s more than misleading—it’s manipulation.

In B2B, this isn’t a theoretical concern. It leads to poor hiring decisions, misaligned partnerships, and damage to brand equity.

What’s LinkedIn doing about it??

LinkedIn has responded to these issues with some force:

• Over 43 million fake accounts were removed in 2023.
• Legal action was taken against data scrapers and automation vendors.
• We are rolling out Transparency Labels to influencer newsletters and branded content.
• But enforcement is inconsistent. And the tools of deception evolve faster than platform policy.

The Business Cost of Fake Credibility

The damage isn’t limited to individual profiles. Here’s how it shows up in boardrooms and bottom lines:

Mismatched Hiring

A cybersecurity firm recently hired a “LinkedIn thought leader” based on their viral presence. Once onboarded, it became clear: their content was ghostwritten, and their domain knowledge was shallow. Cost to the company:

• $75,000 in salary
• Internal morale issues
• A tarnished brand image

Brand Partnerships Gone Wrong

A B2B XXXX company collaborated with a well-known influencer who subsequently faced accusations of fraudulent engagement. The campaign flopped. The leads were junk. The backlash is real.

Their CMO admitted:

“We focused on vanity metrics—likes and followers—not real influence. That was our mistake.”

Metrics That Matter

Real influence is measurable, but not always visible. Smart leaders are now tracking:

• Quality of engagement (not quantity)
• Who is commenting (industry peers vs. bots)?
• Is there cross-platform credibility?
• Does the audience act (not just react)?

Conclusion: Influence Is Easy to Fake. Trust Is Not

LinkedIn is the new stage— the new resume, the new boardroom. But just like a CV can be embellished, so can digital authority.

As someone who has experience working behind the scenes, here’s what I advise:

Don’t be seduced by surface-level popularity. Don’t equate likes with leadership. Don’t make six-figure decisions based on six-second impressions.

Make sure to conduct thorough research before hiring, investing, or aligning your brand with a voice. Ask questions. Look deeper. Vet them like you’d vet a supplier or executive.

Because influence might get attention.But trust is what drives results.

And trust is earned—never bought.

This post was written by Mario Bekes