Security agencies from the United Kingdom and the international intelligence alliance Five Eyes have issued a joint warning, saying that suspected Chinese intelligence operatives are using popular recruitment and employment platforms to target government employees, military personnel, and workers in strategic sectors.
According to the alliance, individuals linked to Chinese intelligence services are creating fake profiles on platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork, posing as professional recruiters or international consulting firms.
These profiles reportedly contact individuals who may have access to sensitive information, including government officials, academics, researchers, and employees of strategic institutions.
According to Five Eyes, the recruitment process often begins with an attractive job offer for positions such as “research analyst” or “policy consultant.”
Candidates who express interest are then invited to online interviews, during which the recruiters attempt to assess their access to internal information, government contacts, or knowledge of military activities.
The alliance warned that Chinese intelligence services are seeking to obtain privileged military, political, and economic information that could provide China with strategic and tactical advantages.
Potential targets range from individuals holding security clearances to academics and employees of research organizations, the alliance said in its joint statement.
Key recommendations from security agencies
- Be cautious of unsolicited job offers from unknown recruiters.
- Verify the identity of recruiters and companies independently.
- Avoid sharing sensitive, non-public, or classified information during interviews.
- Report suspicious approaches to relevant security authorities.
- Be especially vigilant if a role requires unusual secrecy or offers unusually high compensation.
