Photo by omid armin on Unsplash
Fake journalists, phishing attempts, and suspicious interviews — here’s what you need to know to protect your company from an unsettling new scam making its way through the tech world.
Imagine this: You’re a startup founder or a comms lead, and you get an email from a TechCrunch reporter eager to learn about your product. It’s flattering, exciting even. But here’s the hard truth — that email might be fake.
TechCrunch has issued a warning about a new wave of impersonators pretending to be their reporters, editors, and event organizers. These scammers are reaching out to companies posing as trusted names in tech journalism — and they’re using that illusion to trick people into giving up sensitive business information.
What’s really happening?
Photo by Moritz Kindler on Unsplash
Scammers are targeting companies under the guise of being legitimate TechCrunch staff. They email businesses pretending to be reporters interested in your product or startup. In some cases, they even follow up with phone calls, mimicking real journalists and digging for confidential details during those conversations.
The deception is unusually sophisticated. These impersonators:
- Use names of real TechCrunch staff
- Copy the tone and writing style you’d expect from a professional journalist
- Mention timely startup trends to make their outreach seem legit
But if you look closely, you might catch small red flags — like email addresses that don’t match up or job titles that don’t match the sender’s supposed role.
Why would someone do this?
That’s still a bit of a mystery. The best guess? They’re likely trying to gain initial access to a business network — possibly for more traditional cyberattacks like phishing, data theft, or corporate espionage.
It’s not just a TechCrunch problem, either. These tactics are popping up across the media industry. Fake outreach campaigns are leveraging the reputation of trusted news brands to get their foot in the door.
What can you do if you’re contacted?
If someone reaches out to you claiming to be from TechCrunch and something feels off, take a moment to investigate. Here’s how you can quickly verify their identity:
- Check TechCrunch’s staff page. If the name isn’t listed, it’s fake.
- Match the contact’s job title. If a copy editor suddenly wants to know about your growth metrics, that’s a red flag.
- Still unsure? Reach out directly. Contact TechCrunch via their official channels to confirm.
And remember, it’s not rude to be skeptical. These scammers are counting on you to trust quickly and verify later — which is what makes their tactics dangerous.
Why this matters
When legitimate journalism takes a hit like this, it affects more than just one company. It chips away at the trust that anchors conversations between media and business, between startups and press. So taking an extra moment to verify an inquiry isn’t just protecting your team — it protects the broader ecosystem of honest reporting.
In the meantime, if you’re planning to connect with real TechCrunch insiders, maybe do it at Disrupt 2025. It’s happening October 27 to 29 in San Francisco. Big names like Netflix, Sequoia Capital, and ElevenLabs will be there. Just make sure whoever’s inviting you is actually from TechCrunch.
Stay sharp out there.
Keywords: Scammers, Phishing, TechCrunch, Fake Reporters, Cybersecurity, Journalism Trust
