Impostors Approach Companies with Fake TechCrunch Outreach

Hi there, and as always, we value your continued support for TechCrunch. We’d like to take a moment to address a pressing concern with you.

It has come to our attention that scammers are impersonating TechCrunch reporters and event organizers, reaching out to businesses while posing as members of our team. These deceptive individuals are exploiting our reputation to trick unsuspecting companies, which deeply frustrates and angers us on your behalf.

This issue isn’t unique to us; fraudsters are leveraging the trust that established news organizations have to gain access to companies across the media landscape.

One of the most common scams we’ve observed involves impostors acting as our journalists to extract sensitive business information from their victims. In multiple reported incidents, scammers have mimicked real staff members, crafting messages that resemble standard media inquiries about company products and requesting initial calls.

While some alert recipients have noticed discrepancies in email addresses that don’t match those of our actual employees, these scams are quickly evolving; fraudsters continue to perfect their tactics, replicating reporters’ writing styles and referencing industry trends to enhance their credibility. Even more alarmingly, victims who engage in phone interviews report that scammers utilize these discussions to pursue further proprietary information.

What’s driving their actions? While we can’t definitively say, a reasonable assumption is that these groups are aiming for initial access to a larger network.

So, what should you do if approached? If someone claims to represent TechCrunch and you harbor even the slightest doubt about their authenticity, please don’t take their word at face value. We’ve made it simple for you to verify.

Start by visiting our staff page. It’s the quickest way to confirm if the individual contacting you is indeed an employee. If their name isn’t listed, you have your answer.

If a name is found on our staff page, but the job role doesn’t align with their request (for example, if a TechCrunch copy editor suddenly shows unusual interest in your business), you may be facing a scammer.

If the inquiry seems legitimate but you want to double-check, feel free to reach out to us directly (you can find contact details for each writer, editor, sales executive, marketing expert, and events team member in our bios).

We understand it can be tedious to repeatedly verify media inquiries, but these groups rely on your lack of diligence. By staying vigilant about verification, you’re not only protecting your own company; you’re also helping to uphold the trust that genuine journalists need to effectively carry out their work.

Thank you.