Trump Admin Seizes Websites Allegedly Used By Chinese Agents To Target Classified US Info
The U.S. government seized 13 fake job recruiting websites allegedly used by suspected agents of the Chinese government to target American security clearance holders Wednesday.
The suspected agents created the “consulting company websites” starting in November 2023, advertising “generic ‘consulting’ jobs,” according to an affidavit cited by a U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) press release Wednesday. The alleged postings indicated an intent to recruit both current and former American government and military personnel “to provide expertise to unspecified clients.”
Conspirators recruited through social media, job postings and recruiting platforms with postings connected to topics the Chinese Communist Party cared about, according to court documents. The postings used aliases, AI-generated imagery and stolen identities in attempts to recruit individuals, the affidavit alleged.
Fake jobs allegedly included “Senior Analyst” and “International Affairs Consultant” positions. The conspiracy took aim at active and previous security clearance holders as well as other citizens with access to sensitive or classified government information, according to the DOJ. (RELATED: John Bolton Reportedly Pleads Guilty To Mishandling Classified Materials)
Conspirators allegedly pushed candidates to divulge confidential reports and information from “insider” sources in contravention to their official responsibilities. They also transferred money to U.S.-based accounts from overseas and employed encrypted applications, according to the affidavit. The accused have denied being connected to foreign governments, the DOJ said.
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Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said the seizures offer “a glimpse at how foreign actors can use promises of easy money to lure Americans into revealing sensitive or classified information that they are duty‑bound to protect.”
“Anyone approached online with offers of easy income for vague ‘consulting’ work should treat those overtures with extreme caution and remain vigilant for warning signs of malicious targeting,” Eisenberg added.
“For too long, the Chinese government has tried to exploit U.S. government employees behind the cover of fake companies and phony job postings,” Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterintelligence and Cyber Division said. “Today, we shut them down. These seizures will prevent these fraudulent sites from being used to target Americans with access to sensitive information. The FBI will continue to use every tool available to protect Americans and our national security from this threat.”
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