I Need to Find a Contact at...

I Need to Find a Contact at... Often times I have seen LinkedIn group members pose the request I need to find a contact at ABC company, know anyone? My first reaction is, great!   They are asking for help.   But then as I think about it I wonder if that is the best way to get the information they are looking for. If this is a last ditch effort to find a contact, then I am more supportive of the tactic.   By last ditch, I mean have they contacted EVERY person within their network, preferably by phone.   Also, have they   checked the company profile on their own to seek any level of connection with employees?   Have they gone to professional association meetings regularly to meet company insiders? Have they Googled the company and done preliminary research? Putting out this plea for help is noble.   But it makes me wonder if they are just looking for a   fast answer. No one wants to drag this out, I get that.   But there has to be some level of effort, right? If they have in fact done the leg work and dug deep within their network, I would be more inclined to help.   What I would like to see in their request for a contact name is: what theyve already done to find a contact who they might like to talk to what they hope to learn from the conversation. I dont know if this is realistic.   But, I do know that personally, I would be more inclined to help find a contact for them if I knew this. Is it my lack of trust?   My scepticism? Have you posted such a request on a LinkedIn group?   Did you get a response?   Who responded?