Home / Technology / Scammers Exploit News Brands for Corporate Espionage
Scammers Exploit News Brands for Corporate Espionage
21 Nov
Summary
- Scammers impersonate reporters to trick companies into revealing sensitive information.
- Fraudsters use fake identities and convincing pitches to request calls.
- Verification via staff pages or direct contact is crucial to avoid scams.
A growing number of malicious actors are impersonating journalists and media personnel to target companies for sensitive information. These scammers create fake identities, often mimicking actual reporters, and use convincing pitches that reference industry trends to solicit introductory calls. Suspicious email addresses or unusual requests for business details are key indicators of these fraudulent activities. The tactics are evolving, making vigilance essential.
These fraudulent schemes aim to exploit the trust associated with established news brands. The ultimate goal is believed to be gaining access to company networks or proprietary data, aligning with known threat actor behaviors focused on account takeover and data theft. Organizations in the tech sector, including cryptocurrency and cloud companies, appear to be frequent targets.
To protect against these scams, companies are advised to meticulously verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent a news outlet. Checking official staff pages on the media organization's website or directly contacting the outlet through verified channels are the most effective methods. Such verification helps safeguard corporate information and maintains the integrity of journalistic communication.
