Indian professionals are increasingly pausing before applying to jobs. New LinkedIn research shows that 82 per cent now stop to assess whether a role is legitimate, while 53 per cent say they are more likely to question job authenticity than they were a year ago. Yet, this awareness sits alongside unending exposure to scams, especially in the initial stages of job search. The data points to a gap between awareness and action. The twist lies in how this plays out for younger job seekers, most of all. Early-career professionals, particularly Gen Z, often deemed as ‘digitally native’, yet still more vulnerable. Nearly half — 49 pre cent, say they have come close to falling for a scam, and 54 per cent admit they have overlooked warning signs when an opportunity felt too important to miss. In an email interaction with Indianexpress.com , Aditi Jha, Head of Legal & Public Policy at LinkedIn India, shared how scam patterns are evolving and where candidates remain most vulnerable.…