The US Justice Department and the FBI have taken control of 13 websites allegedly utilized by individuals associated with China to enlist current and former US government workers and gather sensitive data from individuals holding security clearances. The operation, conducted on Wednesday, revealed that these websites pretended to be consulting firms, offering positions like “Senior Analyst” and “International Affairs Consultant” to target individuals with government and security backgrounds. Court documents indicate that the scheme began in November 2023, with the creation of fake consulting websites to attract US government and military personnel.
Federal investigators disclosed that the operators employed aliases, stolen identities, and AI-generated images to establish the legitimacy of these fake consulting businesses. They enticed applicants with significant payments for research reports and communicated through encrypted platforms like Telegram. Job advertisements were strategically placed on social media and employment websites, focusing on topics of interest to the Chinese government. The suspects allegedly used cryptocurrency to conceal their identities and the source of funds, aiding in the movement of money into the US to support their activities.
US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro emphasized that the operation aimed to exploit Americans entrusted with confidential government information. The FBI directly linked this activity to Chinese intelligence efforts, highlighting the elaborate measures taken by Chinese intelligence services to deceive and manipulate current and former US security clearance holders. The Justice Department underscored that the suspects have denied any involvement by a foreign government and replaced the seized websites with law enforcement notices warning of their closure.
