Laid-Off US Federal Workers Beware: Chinese Spy Scams Lurking in Fake Job Offers
Chinese government snoops are camouflaging themselves as consulting firms to recruit recently laid-off US federal employees. These fake companies, with names like Smiao Intelligence and RiverMerge Strategies, have been luring unsuspecting job seekers with ads on platforms like LinkedIn and Craigslist, hoping to tap into sensitive information.
Hot Take:
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade… or if you’re a laid-off federal employee, make sure that lemonade stand isn’t a front for a Chinese intelligence operation! The Chinese have taken job recruitment to the next level, offering “career transitions” that might just transition your secrets to Beijing. Who knew job hunting could be such a national security risk?
Key Points:
- Chinese intelligence operations are using fake consulting companies to recruit laid-off US federal employees.
- Five companies, including Smiao Intelligence and Dustrategy, are identified as fronts for these operations.
- The scam involves posting job ads on platforms like LinkedIn and Craigslist.
- FDD’s investigation highlights the potential risk of unintentional information leaks.
- Fake companies clone legitimate websites and use Chinese hosting services.
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