MI5 has issued a warning regarding Chinese espionage targeting UK government and military personnel through job platforms like LinkedIn, aiming to gain access to classified or sensitive information.

A bulletin from the Five Eyes alliance—comprising the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—has shed light on a pronounced online recruitment tactic employed by Chinese military intelligence. This strategy involves operatives masquerading as employees of private firms or think tanks to attract potential candidates.

These operatives post fictitious job openings for positions such as foreign policy or defense analysts, subsequently coercing applicants into sharing “non-public” information, as reported by domestic intelligence agencies on Wednesday.

Chinese agents are primarily targeting individuals on professional networks and job platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork. They present themselves as human resources consultants for seemingly legitimate international companies, specifically focusing on applicants with direct or indirect access to sensitive British information.

Even if an applicant does not have direct access to classified materials, other governmental policies or military strategies could still pose a risk to national security, according to the agencies.

The joint document from Asio, CSIS, FBI, MI5, and NZSIS states: “China’s military intelligence operations are increasingly utilizing a variety of professional networking sites and job platforms to target personnel within the Five Eyes nations who have access to classified or privileged information.”

These operatives employ a proactive online recruitment strategy, with intelligence officers or their associates posing as members of private consultancies, think tanks, or HR firms, placing advertisements for roles like foreign policy and defense analysts.

Once selected, candidates face pressure to divulge “non-public” information for unspecified clients linked to the Chinese government. The ultimate goal of these intelligence services is to obtain critical military, political, and economic intelligence that could confer a strategic edge over the Five Eyes nations.

The types of individuals who may be at risk include:

• Personnel with security clearances, especially those focused on defense, foreign relations, and intelligence.
• Military members, particularly those in the Indo-Pacific region, possessing knowledge of local capabilities and activities.
• Individuals with indirect or peripheral access to government information, such as academics, journalists, freelance writers, think tank employees, or anyone connected to the defense, security, policy, and economic sectors.

According to the bulletin, agents scrutinize applicants’ resumes to identify individuals who may possess valuable information. Interviews are conducted virtually, with recruiters concealing their identities while probing candidates for key insights, including details about government contacts or military operations.

Job applicants are often requested to prepare a sample report on subjects such as China’s international relations, defense, or trade, after which they may be pressured to provide more sensitive information via encrypted messaging systems.

Recruits are compensated for their work, receiving payments that range from several hundred to thousands of dollars through platforms like PayPal, Payoneer, Zelle, Skrill, Wise, as well as traditional methods like Western Union and cryptocurrency.

The bulletin cautions that any individuals involved in the unauthorized sharing of information may face legal repercussions for espionage. MI5 has previously alerted the public about Chinese operatives using LinkedIn to recruit individuals in sensitive positions, with efforts to entice approximately 20,000 Britons with job offers.