Chinese military recruiters are using LinkedIn and Indeed to pay ordinary job seekers for research assignments, the FBI says.
The bureau’s advisory details a scheme where recruiters pose as legitimate employers, offering contracts that pay a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Workers produce open‑source analyses on topics ranging from satellite imagery to supply‑chain data. The finished reports are then funneled to Chinese intelligence agencies, effectively turning unwitting civilians into low‑level spies.
This matters because it shows a shift from traditional espionage to crowd‑sourced intelligence gathering. By exploiting mainstream hiring platforms, the Chinese military can tap a vast pool of talent without the overhead of formal operatives. Companies and job‑seekers alike may need to scrutinize offers more closely to avoid inadvertently aiding foreign intelligence.
The episode also highlights a broader trend: threat actors repurposing everyday tools for espionage, a reminder that not every “remote work” gig is harmless.