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Foreign Spies Target U.S. Troops With Fake Job Offers
Foreign spies are increasingly posing as recruiters, think tanks, and consulting firms to target U.S. soldiers, federal workers, and their families through deceptive online approaches and fraudulent job offers.
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Foreign intelligence agencies are posing as consulting firms, think tanks, corporate recruiters and other professional organizations to target U.S. soldiers, Army civilians and their families, according to a recent warning issued by the Army deputy chief of staff for intelligence.
“Especially in the context of the recent lapse in appropriations and government shutdown, our adversaries are looking online to identify individuals seeking new employment opportunities, expressing dissatisfaction or describing financial insecurity,” Lt. Gen. Anthony R. Hale wrote in a Nov. 13 message sent to more than a million soldiers and Army-affiliated civilians. The Army publicized Hale’s warning in a statement released Monday.
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The message emphasized that current and former federal workers particularly those with security clearances should be alert to suspicious approaches. “If the offer seems flattering, urgent, exclusive or too good to be true, it probably is,” Hale said.
His warning followed months of Defense Department workforce disruptions that resulted in civilian dismissals, thousands of voluntary departures and widespread uncertainty. The alert was distributed just one day after the government reopened on Nov. 12, ending the record-long shutdown.
A June 2024 Army transmission showed that officials had been monitoring these foreign intelligence tactics for some time. It noted that adversaries increasingly rely on nontraditional social platforms, including Reddit and Discord, to initiate seemingly harmless conversations with servicemembers before gradually shifting to more sensitive topics.
Requesters “may rely on opinion-based questions such as asking Department of the Army personnel for their opinion on topics such as Taiwan, Ukraine or Israel to gather information,” the transmission said. The espionage attempts do not seek exclusively classified material; adversaries also pursue sensitive data such as battle plans, research and contracts.
The Army also warned that foreign operatives may extend “disproportionate payment” offers to lure personnel and family members for example, $1,000 for a brief whitepaper or an all-expense-paid trip to China, Hong Kong or Macao.
A suspected Chinese intelligence campaign has already attempted to recruit former federal employees and policy specialists using fake job postings and fabricated corporate websites, according to a report by Nextgov/FCW in September. Those efforts appear to have intensified amid Department of Government Efficiency driven personnel departures in recent months.
The FBI confirmed to Nextgov/FCW that it is aware of foreign adversaries using job boards and social media to identify potential recruitment targets. “Often those targeted have security clearances and access to classified information. But our adversaries also are looking for experts in business and academia with technical expertise,” the bureau said.
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center reported in April that Chinese intelligence entities are actively seeking to recruit unwitting current and former federal workers through online engagement. In March, CNN reported that foreign governments, including China and Russia, accelerated efforts to approach disgruntled national security personnel during this period.
As concerns grow about the vulnerabilities created by uncertainty, financial stress and workforce turnover, the Army emphasized that individuals must remain vigilant about unsolicited outreach. And speaking of safeguarding readiness, many service members continue turning to durable duty gear such as the High Speed Gear HSGI Kydex Handcuff Taco products that remain essential as troops navigate an increasingly complex threat environment.
Editor’s Note:
Reports of foreign intelligence services exploiting economic uncertainty to target U.S. servicemembers and federal employees underscore how quickly online recruitment tactics are evolving. Readers should remain aware of how convincing these fake job offers can appear, especially during periods of government instability.
