Tell HN: LinkedIn Banned Me Out of Nowhere While Raising

#1

Post by 3Samourai » Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 3:22 PM UTC

A week ago, while filling out my YC application, I opened LinkedIn and saw my account was banned. No warning. Just a forced ID and phone verification loop that’s impossible to complete. Support gave me the usual copy-paste response : “just complete verification”, no explanation, no reason.

I have unread DMs from potential investors, people whose emails I don’t have. Friends messaged me asking why my profile disappeared. The effect? Like tossing a rock into the ocean.

The account was real. Created in March. About 50 connections, mostly YC founders, VCs, and school friends. work email, real name, real school.

And yet-gone.

Anyone had this happen before?

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn Banned Me Out of Nowhere While Raising

#2

Post by codingdave » Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 3:29 PM UTC

Yep, I've know people where this happened. Support's answer to you was correct - they jumped through the verification hoops and got their account back.

If you cannot do that, you might want to share what is going wrong that is stopping you.

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn Banned Me Out of Nowhere While Raising

#3

Post by 3Samourai » Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 3:32 PM UTC

codingdave wrote: post #2

Yep, I've know people where this happened. Support's answer to you was correct - they jumped through the verification hoops and got their account back. If you cannot do that, you might want to share what is going wrong that is stopping you.

I have sent them the following explanations, but they have not replied in six days.

---

I’ve had two different errors:

1. It asks for my phone number, I enter it, and get: “You have reached the maximum number of attempts. Please try again at a later date.” but I never received any verification code.

2. Or I get a verification link, open it on my phone, and before I can fill anything in, I get: “Try later.”

Re: Tell HN: LinkedIn Banned Me Out of Nowhere While Raising

#4

Post by rolph » Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 4:10 PM UTC

3Samourai wrote: post #3

codingdave wrote: post #2

Yep, I've know people where this happened. Support's answer to you was correct - they jumped through the verification hoops and got their account back. If you cannot do that, you might want to share what is going wrong that is stopping you.

I have sent them the following explanations, but they have not replied in six days. --- I’ve had two different errors: 1. It asks for my phone number, I enter it, and get: “You have reached the maximum number of attempts. Please try again at a later date.” but I never received any verification code. 2. Or I get a verification link, open it on my phone, and before I can fill anything in, I get: “Try later.”

interesting,,,can you wait 24 hrs then try again?

is there any chance a "virus, script, scheduled task" may be attempting to hijack your linkdin ? and thats why attempts are maxing out?