Chinese spies are increasingly using LinkedIn and other professional networking sites to recruit Western military and government personnel, the US and its intelligence allies warned this week.
The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which includes Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, alleged that Chinese military intelligence operatives were posing as employees of private consultancies, think tanks, and human-resources firms to lure foreign-policy or defense analysts.
Potential targets who respond to online job advertisements, including holders of security clearances and military personnel with knowledge of the Indo-Pacific, are interviewed and asked to write a 'trial report,' according to the threat bulletin issued by agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
More sensitive information is requested in subsequent reports, for which recruits receive as much as several thousand dollars each.
The latest alert shows that Western officials don't believe the threat has subsided despite efforts to bring the issue to light.
LinkedIn said in a statement that misrepresenting one's identity violates its terms of service, adding that it remains focused on detecting state-sponsored abuse.
