What To Do If LinkedIn Account Hacked and No Response?

EXEED Team
Nov 7
5 min read

Updated: Nov 11

If your LinkedIn account was hacked after someone changed your primary email and used a temporary PIN, you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not overreacting. It’s scary to have your professional identity hijacked, and it’s frustrating when support feels silent. Let’s walk through what works in 2025 to recover a hacked LinkedIn account, how to escalate when forms go unanswered, and how to lock things down so it doesn’t happen again. I’ll also share a short script you can use when contacting support and some realistic timelines so you know what to expect.

Quick reality check: if the attacker got a PIN sent to your email, your email account was likely compromised first. That’s the starting point for fixing this.

Step 1: Secure the email account that was used for the PIN

If the attacker still has access to your email, any LinkedIn recovery steps can be undone. Do this immediately:

Reset your email password to something long and unique (at least 14-16 characters; use a password manager).
Turn on 2FA, preferably using an authenticator app or security key (avoid SMS if you can).
Review login activity and sign out from all other sessions/devices.
Check for malicious settings:
- Forwarding rules you didn’t set up.
- Filters that auto-delete security emails.
- Recovery email/phone numbers you don’t recognize.
Remove any unauthorized app access connected to your email account.

If your email provider is Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Apple, or your ISP, each has a “recent activity” or “security” page (review it and revoke anything suspicious.)

Step 2: Try LinkedIn’s official recovery paths (in this order)

Because your primary email was changed, you may not receive LinkedIn’s alerts. You’ll need to prove identity to a human.

1. “I think my account was hacked” process:

Go to LinkedIn Help and select the Hacked Account pathway (search: “LinkedIn hacked account help”).
If you can’t log in, choose “I can’t access my email address.” LinkedIn will route you to identity verification.

2. Identity verification with government ID:

Use LinkedIn’s “Confirm your identity” form to upload a government-issued ID. Make sure:
- The photo is clear and flat, no glare.
- The name matches your LinkedIn profile.
- You include a brief explanation (see sample script below).
They typically ask for a selfie plus an ID photo. If the name has changed (marriage, etc.), attach documentation.

3. Submit the account recovery form again, but with evidence:

Include any case numbers you already have.
Attach screenshots of:
- Email notifications of the primary email change (headers if possible).
- Any unfamiliar logins/IPs (from your email security logs).
- Your profile URL and a recent cache/screenshot if you have one.

4. Escalate across LinkedIn’s official channels:

X/Twitter: @LinkedInHelp with your case ID(s). Keep it factual, not emotional.
If you have Premium or your employer uses LinkedIn Recruiter/Sales Navigator, ask your admin to open a support ticket via their paid support portal.
If your company page is affected, ask another page admin to open a support case through the “Contact Us” link inside Campaign Manager or Page Admin.

What to include when you contact LinkedIn support?

Short and specific tends to get traction. Try this:

“Hi LinkedIn Support, my account was compromised on [date]. The attacker changed my primary email, and I lost access. The attacker also used a temporary PIN sent to my email, which I have since secured (password changed, 2FA enabled, rules removed). My profile URL is: [link]. Case numbers: [#1], [#2]. I can verify my identity with government ID. Please revert the email to [your secure email] and lock out unauthorized sessions. Happy to provide more evidence. Thank you.”

Useful evidence to include

Old email address associated with the account.
Your profile URL (public link).
Dates/times of suspicious activity.
Screenshots of email change notifications, password reset alerts, or login alerts.
Proof you now control the email again.
Any financial loss or impersonation harm (if applicable).

If you hear nothing for weeks, try this escalation timeline

Day 0-1: Submit the hacked account form + ID verification.
Day 2-3: Post a concise @LinkedInHelp message with case ID.
Day 4-7: Re-submit using “Can’t access email” path with attachments.
Week 2: Ask a colleague with LinkedIn Premium/Recruiter to open a support ticket referencing your case.
Week 3+: File a data protection request (for EU/UK) or a formal complaint via LinkedIn’s Safety Center, referencing ongoing account compromise and ID verification submitted.
Ongoing: Reply to any auto-acknowledgment email to keep the thread active.

If the attacker is impersonating you or contacting your network

Alert close contacts via email or other channels: “My LinkedIn was compromised; please ignore messages since [date].”
If fake posts or job scams appeared on your profile, document screenshots.
Consider reporting identity theft to your local authority. In Canada, you can report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If you’re elsewhere: in the US, report to IdentityTheft.gov; in the EU, your national cybercrime portal.

Extra steps that sometimes help to Recover You Hacked LinkedIn Account

Try logging in with your phone number if it was on the account, then use “Forgot password” to see which email is currently listed (don’t proceed if it shows the attacker’s email, just collect the info).
If you ever downloaded your LinkedIn data archive previously, it’s helpful as proof of ownership, but not required.
Ask trusted contacts to report your profile as “hacked/compromised” via the profile’s “More” > “Report” option, which can sometimes trigger internal review.

After recovery: lock down your LinkedIn security

Replace your LinkedIn password with a strong, unique one.
Turn on two-step verification using an authenticator app or security key (avoid SMS where possible).
Remove devices and sign out everywhere (Settings > Sign in & security).
Review email addresses on file; add a backup email you control, and set your secure email as primary.
Revoke any suspicious third-party app connections.
Enable passkeys if available on your device for phishing-resistant login.
Check your activity log for messages sent or posts made by the attacker and remove/notify contacts as needed.

Questions to ask yourself as you go

Do I now fully control the email tied to LinkedIn? If not, fix that first.
Did I enable 2FA for both email and LinkedIn?
Do I have clear timestamps and screenshots to show support?
Can a colleague with paid LinkedIn tools open a support ticket on my behalf?
Have I warned my network to avoid any scam messages?

Why the silence from support?

It’s not ideal, but large platforms triage by risk, volume, and verifiable identity. Cases that get faster traction usually include:

Positive ID verification (government ID + selfie).
Concrete evidence (screens with headers/timestamps).
Clear, short summaries with case IDs.
Polite persistence across official channels (not daily, but steady).

SEO-friendly takeaway if you’re searching for help today

How to recover a hacked LinkedIn account when the email was changed
What to do when LinkedIn support isn’t responding
Steps to secure email and prove identity to LinkedIn
Best practices to prevent future LinkedIn account compromise

A quick checklist you can copy

Secure email (password + 2FA, remove rules/sessions).
Submit LinkedIn hacked account form + ID verification.
Attach evidence; include case IDs on follow-ups.
Escalate via @LinkedInHelp and, if available, Premium/Recruiter support.
Notify contacts and document any impersonation.
After recovery, enable 2FA, sign out everywhere, audit connected apps, add backup email.