I Discovered A Colleague Lied On Her LinkedIn — Now What Do I Do?

I was recently perusing LinkedIn when I noticed a post written by a former workmate. She wrote a long-winded essay thanking the people who have always been supportive members of the media community ― and hoping that she has always been “one of these people.”

I gasped. This woman ruined my life ― at least my early career life. She was the reason I collected unemployment in my mid-20s. Because of her actions, I was laid off as an editor and couldn’t afford to move out of my parents’ apartment. I had to take on any freelance assignment that came my way, even a gig with Soap Opera Hairstyles magazine writing about how Susan Lucci got her voluminous waves.

My entire personal and professional life was sent spiraling because this individual felt threatened by me. Even worse than including herself today in a group of “people who crusade for others” is the fact that numerous comments on her post were filled with heart emojis, cheers and platitudes. Had she simply forgotten how she marched into our boss’s office 30 years ago and announced that axing me might be a great way to trim the budget?

I still wince at the memory ― and the fact that she has rewritten history in a very public way to gain favor (she’s currently “available for work”). I considered adding my own comments (“Are you nuts?” “Who are you kidding?” “You wouldn’t help an old lady cross the street!”) but decided it probably wasn’t a good look. Besides, it was a long time ago. Water under the bridge, right?

But it didn’t stop there. I noticed that another colleague inflated some of his titles, adding “senior” or “executive” before them, and lengthened the dates he worked at his positions. The publications are long defunct, so he probably figured, “Hey, why not? Who’ll be the wiser?” Another bragged about launching her own “in-demand” consulting business. (FYI, it has no name or website. She suggested people simply DM her.) She also said she attended an Ivy League college when I know she only took a continuing education seminar there one summer.

OK, so these people puffed themselves up a bit. My own outrage aside, who was it actually hurting? No one else seemed upset or even aware. Then again, what if these untruths deprived someone who was actually more deserving of a position? I found myself in a moral dilemma: Do I or don’t I call out these people? And if I do, how do I go about it in a way that doesn’t make me look mean or petty? Is it my job to play the LinkedIn police when it seems like so many people these days are boldly embellishing their qualifications?

Experts say the current job market is to blame for this trend in telling work-related whoppers. “This isn’t always about deception — it’s often about survival,” explained Patrice Williams-Lindo, founder & CEO of career coaching firm Career Nomad. “People are scared. Between mass layoffs, economic instability and AI shaking up entire industries, workers are understandably feeling the pressure to look more experienced, more impressive or just more visible. The platforms themselves reward this kind of puffery. The louder and flashier the profile, the more likely someone is to be noticed — and that’s a systemic problem, not just a personal one.”

But when you lie on your résumé or your LinkedIn, she insists, you’re not just misleading others — you’re slowly eroding your own confidence. “You’re borrowing a brand instead of building one. In times of instability, the temptation to over-inflate your experience is real — but so is the power of radical self-awareness,” she added.

Employers and recruiters are savvy and view résumés and LinkedIn profiles as conversation starters not confirmation, warns Stephen Dwyer, president of the American Staffing Association. “While it may sound great to have a fancy title or various accolades, nothing can jeopardize trust faster than résumé, education or work history exaggerations. [It’s] simply not worth jeopardizing job prospects or a reputation.”

So if you notice someone posting falsehoods, should you speak up or shut up? Williams-Lindo said it’s important to check your intention: Are you genuinely concerned, or just annoyed? “If someone’s exaggeration is actively causing harm — like blocking a more qualified candidate or misleading a hiring manager — then reaching out to the source in a DM is best.” She suggests communicating in a respectful, non-accusatory manner, e.g., “Hey, I noticed something on your profile/résumé that might come across differently than you intended…”

Public callouts, she added, rarely work out well. “Even if you’re right, you may end up looking petty,” she said. “In a digital world where everyone is fighting to be seen, emotional intelligence is the real win. Call people in — not out — unless it’s a legal or ethical issue, then move with intention and empathy.”

Unless you’re directly involved in the hiring process or your company is affected, trying to intervene can quickly look like personal bias, said author and certified etiquette coach Jamila Musayeva. “If it’s a formal role at your organization and there’s a clear misrepresentation, it’s appropriate to flag it discreetly to the right department,” she noted. “The person making the hire has the duty to verify qualifications, and often, they do.”

Gossiping, she added, is also not a smart move, as tempting as that may be in the moment. “Don’t broadcast your doubts to others. Gossiping or trying to rally people to your side will reflect more poorly on you than on the person you’re criticizing,” she said.

In the end, people embellish for many reasons, said workplace well-being and culture expert Heather Lamb. “Sometimes it’s pressure. Sometimes it’s insecurity. Sometimes it’s survival,” she added. “That doesn’t make it right, but it does make it human. Try not to let it bother you. Release it. Redirect your energy toward the environments you’re shaping. The people who are meant to be seen for the work they actually do — they always rise.”