HACKED!!!

Wow, I never realized how much I used my LinkedIn account to keep up to date.

On Dec. 25 I got a notice that said a new email address had been added to my account.

That name was [email protected]

Being Christmas I ignored it.

I guess I should have paid more attention. About a week ago I logged out of LinkedIn and then later logged back in.

Upped popped what looked like the sign in screen for LinkedIn.

Except, instead of my name it was good old "jimi's" on the email line. I deleted that name, entered my own, and then proceeded to type in my password thereby giving "jimi" direct access to my account...it was a fake sign in page.

A few days later I started getting dozens of notifications from people who were accepting my requests to connect...but I hadn't sent any out!!

Logging into LinkedIn I found that my account was sending out hundreds of requests, and I only knew about it because a few dozen folks had accepted.

My account had been turned into a self replicating virus.

I filed a report with LinkedIn and they immediately suspended my account, great. But they also now didn't know who was the real owner of the account anymore, me or "jimi"...not so great.

You have three options to get your account unfrozen. Send in a form from a Notary Public...but that costs money, provide a scan of your driver's licence/identification card or a scan of your passport photo page.

I chose the easiest option, to photo scan my driver's licence (after blacking out my address, DOB, licence number) and attach it to a special page...but no...back came a cryptic message that they couldn't read it or it wasn't supported.

Now you stop and think; am I just giving this person even more information about myself?? Fool me once, I'm an idiot, but fool me twice...well...you know.

I then set up a new account, Bad idea...LinkedIn got wise of that immediately and shut it down...and now I had a competing account from some dude named Thomas...instead of Tom.

Finally I went to a Notary Public down the road from the office, met a very nice person who for $48.75 gave me my LinkedIn life back.

The LinkedIn support specialist was very gracious through my whole ordeal and now I realize I should have followed their directions from the beginning.

My advice to you is:

If you get notified by LinkedIn that "jimi" or someone you don't know or even someone you do know was added to your LinkedIn account without your knowledge, take action. The notification email will tell you what to do.

Set up two-step verification, and keep the phone number up to date.

To my new friends who connected with me during this episode, welcome!

To all my old friends and connections, it's good to be back,

Hope you are all doing well.