Chinese spies using job websites to target UK government staff, MI5 warns
MI5 has issued a stern warning that Chinese spies are actively targeting UK government and military personnel through popular job sites, trying to obtain classified or sensitive information.
A bulletin published by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance of the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand highlighted an “aggressive” online recruitment strategy.
Chinese military intelligence agents reportedly pose as representatives of private businesses or think tanks, advertising fake roles such as foreign policy or defense analysts.
Acting as HR consultants for seemingly legitimate companies, often based abroad, these representatives use platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Upwork.
Their goal is to pressure candidates into providing “non-public” information.
Intelligence agencies have warned that people with direct or indirect access to British secrets are being targeted.
Even if the applicant does not have classified information, details regarding government policy or military strategies and capabilities may still compromise national security.
The document states: “China’s military intelligence services are increasingly using a wide range of professional networking sites and online business platforms to target the Five Eyes government, military personnel, and anyone with access to classified or privileged information.
“These actors use an aggressive online recruitment strategy in which intelligence officers or their affiliates pose as employees of private consultancies, think tanks, or human resources firms and post online job postings for foreign policy and defense analysts or similar individuals.
“Successful candidates are pressured to provide ‘non-public’ information to unspecified clients with ties to the Chinese government.
“China’s military intelligence services seek to obtain privileged military, political and economic intelligence that could ultimately give China a strategic and tactical advantage over the Five Eyes.”
The types of employees that can be targeted include:
- Security clearance holders, especially those who specialize in defence, foreign affairs, security and intelligence.
- Military personnel with knowledge of regional capabilities and general activities, including those stationed in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Individuals with indirect or peripheral access to government information, including academics, journalists, freelance writers, think tank staff or anyone with connections to the defence, security, policy and economic sectors.
After the ads run, agents scan applicants’ resumes to find who might have access to useful information, the release states.
Interviews are conducted virtually, disguising recruiters’ true identities, probing candidates for important details such as access to government contacts or military activities.
Job hopefuls are then asked to write a test report on topics such as China’s relations with other countries, defense or trade, then are asked for more sensitive information and the conversation moves to encrypted messaging platforms.
Recruits are paid between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars per report on payment platforms such as PayPal, Payoneer, Zelle, Skrill, and Wise, as well as Western Union, e-transfer, and cryptocurrency.
The bulletin warns that anyone involved in the unauthorized disclosure of information may face prosecution for espionage.
