Tag: inquiry

  • Phony TechCrunch Outreach Puts Companies on the Hook

    TechCrunch Impersonators: A Quick Heads-Up

    Hey there, fellow tech enthusiast! We’ve got some vital intel to share—someone’s turning the TechCrunch brand into a sham, and it’s baiting both the whole media scene and your own company. Let’s dive in and keep those scammers at bay.

    Why This Matters to Us and You

    • We’re seeing a surge of walk‑in “reporters” and “event leads” who claim to be from TechCrunch, but they’re actually sweet‑talking fraudsters.
    • These impostors use the news outlet’s reputation to get your confidential info—not the kind of info you’d want in the wrong hands.
    • It’s not just a TechCrunch issue; fraudsters are weaponising the trust that comes with well‑known media brands to unlock data across the industry.

    Typical “Pitch” You’ll Spot

    Imagine a curious press release asking you for a quick interview about your latest product. Sounds harmless? That’s exactly the bait most scams drop. The scammer adopts a real staff name, copies a copy‑editor’s tone, then requests an “introductory call.” If you get the call, the attacker digs for even deeper insights.

    How to Spot the Red Flags

    • Check the email address: Fake addresses often bend or replace domains (e.g., email-techcrunch.com).
    • Verify the person: Search the TechCrunch staff page—if the name isn’t there, they’re most likely a fraud.
    • Match the job role: If a copy editor suddenly wants to know your proprietary business secrets, something’s off.
    • When in doubt, ask direct: Reach out to us via the contact info on each writer’s bio to confirm legitimacy.
    What We Think is Behind the Scam

    It all boils down to one thing: access. People playing “TechCrunch” are looking for a foothold into networks or valuable data for future account takeover or data theft—especially targeting the crypto, cloud, and tech sectors.

    Preventive Checklist: Stay Safe

    1. Confirm via Staff Page—names that pop up, but never either.
    2. Assess the Request—does it line up with the role?
    3. Reach Out to Us Directly—we’ve got contact details for every writer, editor, and event lead.
    4. When in doubt, refuse or postpone unless you’re certain.

    We know it’s a pain to double‑check every “media” outreach. But remember, your due diligence protects you and keeps the credibility of real journalists intact.

    Recent Fake Domains (FYI)

    • 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.chte
    • techcrunch.com.pl
    • techcrunch.gl
    • techcrunch.gstechcrunch.id
    • techcrunch.it
    • techcrunch.latechcrunch.lt
    • techcrunch.net.cn
    • techcrunch1.com

    Thank you for staying alert and protecting the community. Together, we’ll keep the tech press honest and scam-free.