The United States has raised concerns about the increasing threat of espionage from China, with intelligence agencies warning about fake job offers used to lure current and former federal employees. This alert coincides with a wave of federal layoffs occurring under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative led by Elon Musk.
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) has cautioned that Chinese intelligence operatives are posing as recruiters from legitimate companies. They are using platforms such as LinkedIn, job boards, email, and messaging apps to reach out to individuals with government experience. Their aim is to extract sensitive information under the pretense of job interviews or professional discussions.
According to the alert, these foreign agents often pretend to represent consulting firms, think tanks, or headhunting agencies based in neutral countries. Their methods have become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. Many targets are professionals who have recently been laid off from government positions and are actively seeking new employment.
While the tactic of fake recruitment is not new, it is gaining traction as more professionals shift to digital job searches. The NCSC emphasized the risks for individuals with access to classified or sensitive information, noting that even those no longer working in government may still be considered valuable targets.
This warning underscores a broader trend of cyber-enabled espionage aimed at exploiting economic uncertainty and professional transitions. As of now, there has been no official response from the Chinese embassy in Washington. The U.S. government continues to closely monitor and counter these foreign intelligence threats.
