Researchers warn of China-backed espionage campaign targeting laid-off US workers

An article from A report by FDD says an elaborate online recruiting effort is using LinkedIn and fake online companies to gather sensitive intelligence. Published May 20, 2025 Chinese President Xi Jinping (Fort Cebter) attends the fifth plenary meeting of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People on March 15, 2013, in Beijing, China. A report by FDD warns of an elaborate online campaign backed by China to recruit laid-off federal workers using front companies and LinkedIn listings. Lintao Zhang via Getty Images A Chinese government-backed intelligence operation is actively using fake employment sites and social media to recruit laid-off federal workers, according to a report released Monday by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies .  Researchers warn that the operation is using front companies, LinkedIn and other tools as part of a broad online campaign to gather intelligence on the U.S., including sensitive information related to U.S. national security and corporate interests.  “Historically, China’s efforts to recruit current and former government employees typically focus on people with access to sensitive information,” Max Lesser, senior analyst on emerging threats at FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, told Cybersecurity Dive via email. “Even a government employee’s
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