The FBI seized over a dozen websites it alleged were used by Chinese agents to recruit current and former U.S. officials with security clearances.
The body0s institution said in its affidavit that the people used the website to set up fake "consulting companies to recruit individuals in the United States to obtain sensitive and possibly classified information in exchange for monetary payments."
The websites advertised positions including "International Affairs Analyst, Defense Analyst, Jobs for Ex-Military Personnel," among others. Seven people were recruited and were asked for papers on different issues, including U.S.-China relations, Iran and the Israel-Palestine war. They were asked for exclusive information they could have.
"The conspirators have also paid the various recruits at accounts located in the United States through payments originating from accounts located overseas," the document adds, noting that those running the alleged scheme were "wittingly or unwittingly" acting on behalf of the Chinese government. The FBI said the people behind the websites "denied any involvement by any foreign government."
The development follows a security bulletin from the Five Eyes, which warned that the country is using online job platforms and professional networking sites as part of its espionage efforts against the U.S. and its allies.
"These actors use an aggressive online recruitment strategy whereby intelligence officers or their affiliates pose as employees of private consultancies, think tanks or human resources (HR) firms, and place online job advertisements for foreign policy and defense analysts (or similar)," reads a passage of the bulletin from the organization, which includes the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Among the platforms being used in the ruse are LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork. There, recruiters will reach out to individuals - usually government employees or military - with a freelance or "gig work" opportunity. The ultimate goal of the contact is to acquire privileged military, political and economic intelligence eventually.
According to the bulletin, after making initial contact through a job website or networking platform, candidates will have an interview held virtually during which recruiters conceal their identity and begin asking questions about the target's access to information and their role.
"Military members may be asked about their roles and unit activities, home base or naval vessel," the bulletin states.
Eventually, the candidates are asked to write a trial report on a topic. Later, additional reports are requested that begin to require more privileged information. "At some point in the recruitment process, intelligence officers typically move the conversation to a more 'secure' platform, such as encrypted messaging applications," the bulletin noted.
