Potential Scam Alert in Co-Founder Matching
As a solo founder based in Taiwan, I have been actively using co-founder matching lately to find a technical partner in the Southeast Asia time zone.
Our startup blueberry has acquired hard-earned initial paid customers with our beta app, and is ready to take things to the next step.
However, in the process of matching with three candidates, I have observed what appears to be a pattern of fraudulent activity:
Fake Profiles – The candidates I matched with presented fake Y Combinator (YC) profiles, fabricated profile pictures, and misleading background stories.
Inconsistent Experience – Upon deeper conversations on google chat, they were unable to provide personal insights or verifiable experiences that aligned with their profiles.
Focus on Salary, Not Partnership – A common thread among all three candidates was their immediate interest in our development plans and salary, rather than the collaborative spirit typically expected in co-founder relationships.
Misleading Locations – Their listed locations often did not match their actual whereabouts such as random time zones that weren't mentioned anywhere, and they referenced random projects that bore no connection to their stated experience.
No remorse being confronted - the reason why I believe it's beyond just a few guys trying to make extra money is because while I confronted them on the call, they showed no remorse but were only interested in salary and getting me back to chat which is a common scam tactic.
I went through at least 70 profiles in the SEA region (there are 0 matches in Taiwan so I had to look beyond), and only chatted with a select few, and so far none of them are authentic.
I urge Yc admin and founders in this matter, i really wish this matching product can work.
This trend could negatively impact the experience in a huge way, please take notice, thank you. Dont get scammed guys !