FBI Joins Canada, Australia, New Zealand, MI5 Warning China Uses LinkedIn to Recruit Security Personnel

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation joined a rare joint bulletin with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the New Zealand Intelligence Community and Britain's MI5 warning that China's military intelligence services are systematically using professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Upwork to recruit government and military personnel.

“The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) is warning Kiwis with access to sensitive government information that they could be targeted by Chinese intelligence services through professional networking and job platforms”

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The bulletin, described as “Safeguarding our Secrets,” said the five-step recruitment operation targets security clearance holders, active military personnel and anyone with access to sensitive, but not necessarily classified, government information, including academics, journalists, freelance writers and think tank employees.

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The agencies said Chinese intelligence officers pose as employees of private consulting firms, think tanks or human resources firms and post job listings for foreign policy and defense analysts on the job platforms, then screen applicants for their access potential.

The process includes asking chosen recruits to produce a trial report and then additional reports with more privileged information, before moving the conversation to a more “secure” platform such as an encrypted messaging platform.

The bulletin warned that even unclassified information on government policy, or on military strategy, capabilities and installations, can be collected and combined into a comprehensive operational picture.

The Five Eyes agencies said recruits are offered payments, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per report, and payments are made through third-party platforms including PayPal, Payoneer, Zelle, Skrill, Wise, Western Union and cryptocurrency.

The bulletin said “Often the payments come from accounts belonging to individuals the recruit has not met,” and that the scheme can lead to criminal prosecutions, job losses and security-clearance revocation.

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In Ottawa, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service issued an extraordinary joint alert alongside its Five Eyes counterparts — the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, New Zealand’s Intelligence Community, Britain’s MI5, and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation — warning that China’s military intelligence services are systematically hunting current and former government and military personnel through professional networking sites and online job platforms.

The warning was framed as an aggressive and escalating effort to strip Western democracies of sensitive secrets, according to the agencies’ description in the joint alert.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service said “This is espionage, and is an increasing concern for Five Eyes partners,” adding that “New Zealand is not immune from this malicious activity – we know it happens here.”

The Five Eyes bulletin said “Certain types of data can place the lives of frontline military or other personnel at risk,” can weaken economic prosperity and enable interference in democratic processes.

“Data has become one of the planet's most strategic resources”

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It also stated that even when applicants have “no direct access to classified information,” information on government policy or military strategy, capabilities and installations can still be collected and combined into an operational picture.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service director general Andrew Hampton urged people to be cautious about what they shared online, saying “We’re not saying don’t use social media or professional networking sites – just don’t tell the world you hold a national security clearance or work with sensitive government or military information.”

Hampton warned that people should be sceptical of unsolicited online offers that appeared too good to be true, even when they looked legitimate, and said “While NZSIS will do everything we can to detect and disrupt this activity, it is very important that anyone with access to sensitive and classified information understands that they can be targeted.”

The joint bulletin said the intelligence officers increasingly pose as online HR recruiters or consultants representing fake, but often legitimate looking “cover companies,” and then progress from seemingly harmless requests to more sensitive topics including military matters, international relations and government decision making.