New Delhi, April 7 -- A new wave of self-proclaimed "mentors" is taking over LinkedIn - promising job seekers golden opportunities in FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) companies, branding to deceive job seekers, and offering fake mentorship programs that ultimately exploit their desperation. As detailed in a viral Reddit post, these so-called mentors often post photos of themselves wearing 'FAANG-branded merchandise or posing at company offices', accompanied by vague motivational messages. Their ultimate goal, critics say, is not to help but to profit.

After tracking several of these influencers, a clear pattern emerged. Their playbook follows five predictable steps:

The Hook: They offer "free" resume reviews or referrals...