Five Eyes warn China is using LinkedIn, Indeed and Upwork to recruit people with access to state secrets

MI5 and allied intelligence agencies warned that Chinese intelligence officers and their proxies are using job and networking platforms including LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork to spot and cultivate people with access to classified or otherwise sensitive government information. The advisory says the operators pose as recruiters, consultancies, think tanks, or research clients, rank applicants by likely access, request trial reports, then move conversations to encrypted messaging and pay through services such as PayPal, Zelle, Wise, Western Union, or cryptocurrency in exchange for non-public information.

Why it matters: This is a real-world espionage and social-engineering threat aimed at government, defense, foreign-affairs, academic, media, and policy workers. People in or near sensitive roles should treat unsolicited research, consulting, or recruiter outreach on these platforms as potentially hostile, report suspicious contact, and avoid sharing resumes or non-public work details casually.

Sources

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