Hacked reporter account blasts LLM-written phishing DMs at startups; how to spot the scam
chrisalbon · x · 2026-09-17
TechCrunch reporter Alex Konrad warns founders about phishing DMs sent from a hacked journalist's account: the pitches are extremely vague with a distinct LLM flavor, offer to write essays before a call, and include scheduling links that should never be clicked.
Red flags he lists:
- Real pitches are specific, not generic story topics
- Legit journalists don't write essays about random calls or have teams scheduling prep calls
- Don't click scheduling links in unsolicited outreach, even from real-seeming accounts
AI practitioner Chris Albon notes half of his DMs are now these messages, quipping that "journalism isn't real."
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