Got a LinkedIn message from a recruiter? It might be Chinese intelligence, warn FBI and MI5
A joint bulletin from the FBI, MI5, ASIO, CSIS, and NZSIS warns of a Chinese intelligence operation targeting Western professionals via LinkedIn and other job platforms. The operation involves posing as recruitment firms to extract sensitive information about government, defense, and foreign policy. Individuals with relevant backgrounds are particularly vulnerable, and the intelligence agencies have already identified individuals involved.
The bulletin details a sophisticated campaign where Chinese military intelligence services are leveraging professional networking sites to identify and recruit individuals with access to sensitive information. Recruiters, often operating through fabricated consultancy firms, initiate contact with potential targets through job advertisements and CV screening, focusing on those with backgrounds in government, defense, or foreign policy. These interactions typically involve online interviews designed to probe the applicant's knowledge and contacts, followed by requests to produce reports on topics related to China's geopolitical interests.