The Five Eyes intelligence partnership has issued a warning about China-linked state actors using fake job ads on websites like LinkedIn to target government workers and military staff in the West.
According to the group's report, these state-backed hackers/spies use websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork to create fake profiles and post advertisements for fake jobs. They then inspect CVs of applicants, conduct online interviews via video calls with hidden identities, and ask for test reports on trade, defence, or politics.
The scammers pressure candidates to share sensitive information through secret, encrypted messaging apps and pay them using PayPal, Wise, or cryptocurrency. The preferred targets include military members, especially those working in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as academics, journalists, and freelance writers linked to government or trade sectors.