- Cheaters pretend TechCrunch Give journalists access to confidential information about the company and its operations.
- Fake emails increasingly mimic the communication style of real employees and credible newsrooms.
- Verification through the official employee website remains the simplest safeguard
Scammers impersonate again TechCrunch Employees and companies were contacted with messages aimed at obtaining confidential information through extensive phishing.
The latest wave involves fake journalists conducting compelling investigations that appear legitimate on the surface.
Several companies have reported receiving emails that mirror actual newsroom communication patterns, confusing recipients who need quick decisions when handling press inquiries.
How imitation attempts work
Plans usually begin with a message similar to a routine request for information about a company’s products or internal operations.
The targets describe obtaining detailed contact information with names of real TechCrunch employees from email domains created specifically for deceptive purposes.
Over time, these players have refined their methods, adapted their writing styles and referenced current industry topics to appear credible.
Some victims say the messages turn into phone calls where impersonators press for deeper access to proprietary material.
Despite that, the number of identity theft attempts increased TechCrunch remains a reliable source of information in its own right.
Recipients are strongly encouraged to verify coverage by visiting the organization’s staff page before responding to an inquiry.
The directory allows anyone to verify that the person contacting them actually works there and provides direct channels to communicate with legitimate employees.
Recipients are advised to compare their information with the nature of the request, as fraudsters often assign real names to requests that do not reflect the responsibilities of these employees.
Authentication remains important as attackers continue to evolve and create email formats that resemble authentic formats.
Companies affected by these systems are encouraged to monitor unknown contacts and verify every detail before sharing sensitive information.
Antivirus software can help detect malicious attachments that sometimes accompany scam messages.
Companies are also advised to be alert for signs of social engineering, especially if the request concerns operational information not normally shared with external parties.
Identity theft protection software can also help businesses detect misuse of employee names or email structures similar to theirs.
A properly configured firewall can further reduce exposure by blocking suspicious domains that fraudsters rely on to deliver their messages.
Impersonators target established media because they benefit from the perception of trust that comes from well-known publications.
Their tactics are similar to those used in broader efforts to gain initial access to corporate networks and gather valuable information.