Fake TechCrunch Impersonators Still Targeting Businesses
▼ Summary
– Scammers are increasingly impersonating TechCrunch staff to deceive companies by using the publication’s reputation.
– These fraudsters use fake email addresses and mimic writing styles to request calls and extract sensitive business information.
– The schemes are evolving to include email addresses that closely match legitimate TechCrunch conventions, making detection harder.
– TechCrunch advises verifying contacts through their official staff page and reaching out directly if there’s any doubt about legitimacy.
– This impersonation trend is part of a broader issue affecting media brands, aimed at gaining access to networks or stealing data.
Businesses are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated scammers who impersonate TechCrunch journalists and event coordinators, leveraging the publication’s trusted reputation to deceive companies. These fraudulent actors are not affiliated with TechCrunch in any way, yet they persistently use the brand’s name to solicit sensitive information or gain unauthorized access. Reports from concerned recipients have surged recently, with many asking whether certain outreach attempts are genuine. This troubling trend isn’t isolated to TechCrunch; impersonation scams are affecting multiple established media outlets, exploiting the credibility these organizations have built over time.
One frequently observed tactic involves fraudsters posing as actual TechCrunch reporters, sending seemingly professional emails that request introductory calls or details about a company’s products. While some recipients spot red flags, such as email addresses that don’t align with official domains, scammers are now using addresses that closely mimic legitimate ones, making detection more difficult. These schemes continue to evolve, with impostors refining their language to mirror reporters’ writing styles and referencing current industry trends to appear authentic. In several instances, victims who agreed to phone interviews found the callers probing aggressively for proprietary data. One public relations representative noted that a fake reporter raised suspicions by sharing an unusual scheduling link.
The motives behind these scams remain unclear, but security experts suggest the perpetrators may be seeking initial network access or confidential business intelligence. Former colleagues at Yahoo have linked similar impersonation attempts to a known threat actor historically involved in account takeover and data theft, particularly targeting cryptocurrency, cloud services, and other technology firms under various pretenses.
If your company receives an inquiry from someone claiming to represent TechCrunch, it’s essential to verify their identity before responding. Start by consulting the official TechCrunch staff page, this resource allows you to confirm whether the individual contacting you is a current employee. If the person’s name does not appear on the roster, the approach is almost certainly fraudulent.
Even if the name matches someone on the staff list, compare their actual role with the nature of the request. For example, if a copy editor expresses unusual interest in your business operations, that could signal a scam. When in doubt, reach out to TechCrunch directly using the contact information available in staff bios. Each writer, editor, sales professional, and events team member has a verified profile with appropriate contact details.
While it may feel inconvenient to scrutinize every media inquiry, these fraudulent groups rely on targets skipping that step. By taking a moment to confirm legitimacy, you not only protect your own organization’s sensitive information but also help maintain the integrity of professional journalism.
For reference, here are some of the domains recently used by TechCrunch impersonators:
email-techcrunch[.]com
hr-techcrunch[.]com
interview-techcrunch[.]com
mail-techcrunch[.]com
media-techcrunch[.]com
noreply-tc-techcrunch[.]com
noreply-techcrunch[.]com
pr-techcrunch[.]com
techcrunch-outreach[.]com
techcrunch-startups[.]info
techcrunch-team[.]com
techcrunch[.]ai
techcrunch[.]biz[.]id
techcrunch[.]bz
techcrunch[.]cc
techcrunch[.]ch
techcrunch[.]com[.]pl
techcrunch[.]gl
techcrunch[.]gs
techcrunch[.]id
techcrunch[.]it
techcrunch[.]la
techcrunch[.]lt
techcrunch[.]net[.]cn
techcrunch1[.]com
(Source: TechCrunch)
