US cracks down on fake job scams linked to China

Federal agents took over 13 website domains recently after discovering they were fronts for an elaborate scheme. These fake companies posed as consulting firms trying to hire current or former U. S. government workers. Their real goal? To trick employees with access to sensitive information into sharing secrets with foreign operatives. The scam works through online job postings that seem legitimate. Once applicants express interest, recruiters push for exclusive insider knowledge. This isn’t just a random hacking attempt – it’s a coordinated intelligence operation. A week before the seizures, the U. S. and its allies warned that China has been increasingly using career websites to target Western workers.China’s embassies dismissed these claims as lies. Meanwhile, officials emphasized that anyone trying to exploit trusted government employees will face consequences. This isn’t the first time such tactics have been spotted. In early 2025, similar fake companies tried to recruit recently fired federal workers after major government restructuring. The FBI has been warning about these digital traps for years. A 2020 short film highlighted the case of Kevin Mallory, a former CIA officer sentenced to 20 years for passing defense secrets to China. He got caught after being recruited through social media for a fake foreign affairs job.