Spotting Fake TechTown Detroit Websites & Emails

We're proud of the trust our community places in TechTown Detroit. Unfortunately, scammers sometimes try to exploit that trust by creating fake websites and emails that look like ours. We want to help you stay safe, so here's what to watch for.

How to Identify a Fraudulent Website

Check the web address (URL)

• Real TechTown sites use techtowndetroit.org, our official subdomains (like members.techtowndetroit.org), or any of the following partner sites in our network:

  • Hatch Detroit: hatchdetroit.com
  • MedHealth: medhealthinnovation.org
  • Toast of the Town: toastofthetowndet.com
  • Ops Plus: opsplus.org
  • Detroit Elevate: detroitelevate.org

• TechTown also uses Zoho, a software developer we have partnered with, to complete our work. This may mean you could be redirected to applications or websites ending in zoho.com, which is perfectly normal.
  • If you are asked to enter data into a Google Form, or another form you are not aware of, check the information source, or email info@techtowndetroit.org, to make sure you have the right place.

• Scammers often use similar-looking URLs with slight variations (like "techtowndetroit.net" or "techtown-det.org"). Consider variations of our other domains listed above as well.

• When in doubt, always type the address directly into your browser rather than clicking links in emails.

Look for the security lock in your browser

• Legitimate websites have an SSL certificate, shown as a padlock icon in your browser's address bar.

• Click the padlock to verify that the certificate belongs to TechTown Detroit or our partner, Let's Encrypt. The CN or Common Name should always match the true domain of the website

• If there's no lock or the certificate shows a different organization, it's not our site, and you should not enter any information into forms or documents on the site.

Check for our official branding

• Our legitimate affiliate and partner sites display a special TechTown brand header at the top of the page, pictured below, with clickable links that take you back to TechTown's many programs.

• If a site claims to be affiliated with TechTown but lacks this header, it's likely fake.

How to Spot Fake Emails

Check the sender's email address

• Real TechTown employees use email addresses ending in @techtowndetroit.org.

• If an email comes from any other domain, it's not from us—even if the sender's name looks official.

Watch for requests for sensitive information.

• TechTown employees will never ask you to reply with personal information like credit card numbers, passwords, or EIN numbers. We only collect information like this through secure and authorized forms and systems to benefit your business.

• Legitimate organizations don't request sensitive data via email, and neither does TechTown.

• If an email asks for this information, report it to your email host immediately and then delete it.

Be cautious about payment requests.

• TechTown Detroit never accepts payments without a completed application and thorough vetting by our team.

• If a website asks you to pay before we've reviewed your application or without direct communication from our staff, it's most likely a scam.

• When in doubt, contact us directly using the phone number or email on our official Contact Us page.

Trust your instincts

• Does the email feel rushed or urgent? Does it pressure you to act quickly? --Legitimate communications from TechTown are professional and allow time for a response.

• Does it ask for unusual payment methods, such as gift cards, or display a suspicious payment collection page? -- TechTown collects payments through a single means and talks with you over the phone or in person first.

What to Do If You Find a Fake Site or Email

Help us protect our community! If you encounter a fraudulent website or suspicious email claiming to be from TechTown Detroit, please report it to us:

Email: digitalsolutions@techtowndetroit.org

Include in your report:

• The fake website URL or the sender's email address

• How you found it (search results, email, social media, etc.)

• Any other details that seemed suspicious

Your report helps us take action and protect other business owners like you.

Questions?

If you're ever unsure whether something is legitimate, don't hesitate to contact us directly via our official website at techtowndetroit.org. We're happy to help!