Beware of Scammers Impersonating CoinDesk Journalists on Social Media

According to CoinDesk, scammers are pretending to be CoinDesk journalists on social media and other platforms. While real CoinDesk journalists often reach out to strangers for interviews and story information, they never ask for payment to write stories. Scammers are using social media to send phishing links to investors and companies, often posing as CoinDesk journalists requesting interviews and sending malicious links that appear to be from scheduling apps like Calendly. To verify the identity of someone claiming to be from CoinDesk, check the CoinDesk masthead, which lists all reporters and editors by name, contact information, and social media handles. If the person contacting you is not listed on the masthead or is using a different social media handle, they are not a CoinDesk employee. CoinDesk is not the only media organization experiencing this issue, and it is not the first time their journalists have been targeted by scammers. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a query, reach out to a CoinDesk employee listed on the masthead for confirmation. Always take your time and trust your instincts if a situation does not feel right. The article was edited by Marc Hochstein and Sam Kessler.