{
  "id": 3333495,
  "title": "Inside a Suspected Fake CoinDesk Podcast Funnel Targeting Web3 Founders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/inside-a-suspected-fake-coindesk-podcast-funnel-targeting-web3",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-25T19:27:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/frantzgs/inside-a-suspected-fake-coindesk-podcast-funnel-targeting-web3-founders-3k43"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 15, 2026, a LinkedIn message was received claiming to be from a Venture Scout at TheForms Ventures, inviting a discussion about a personal crypto journey for a supposed CoinDesk podcast. The initial message seemed legitimate, with a polished profile, a simple pitch, and no suspicious downloads or phishing pages. However, as the conversation progressed, red flags emerged. The conversation shifted to language barriers, promising AI translation, and eventually discussing operating-system compatibility. Evidence was preserved and published in a redacted incident report. The LinkedIn account used the name Denys Kovalov and claimed to be a Venture Scout at TheForms Ventures. The podcast was titled \"Why Crypto Became Personal,\" a title that closely matched a previously reported case. The booking was made through a TheForms Calendly page, and the meeting was scheduled for a Google Meet. The meeting was genuine, but the promised translation did not work as expected. The conversation then shifted to Windows, macOS, and Linux, which is a common tactic used by cybercriminals to gain access to a victim's computer. No malware was delivered in this specific interaction, but the case is significant as it is linked to a previously reported incident. CoinDesk independently confirmed the phishing attempt, stating that the series and podcast did not exist. This investigation documents a pre-compromise social-engineering chain, not a completed theft.",
  "summary": "On 15 August 2026, I received a LinkedIn message inviting me to discuss my personal crypto journey for a supposed CoinDesk podcast. At first glance, the approach looked credible. The sender used a polished LinkedIn profile presenting as a Venture Scout at TheForms Ventures. The pitch was simple, professional, and low-friction. There was no wallet request, no investment offer, no suspicious…",
  "key_points": [
    "LinkedIn message impersonating CoinDesk Venture Scout",
    "Conversation shifted to language barriers and OS compatibility",
    "CoinDesk confirms phishing attempt, series does not exist"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}