Are Chinese spies using fake job offers to target Western officials?

Team TOI PlusTIMESOFINDIA.COM
Jun 6, 2026 | 12:57 IST
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Western intelligence agencies warn that officials with security clearance, as well as military personnel, journalists, and think tank employees, may be targeted through professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork

In November last year, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 identified two suspicious LinkedIn profiles — Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen — and subsequently warned lawmakers that Chinese spies were posing as recruiters to target individuals working in the UK Parliament.

Simon Whelband, a researcher for Conservative MP Neil O’Brien, told BBC that one of the accounts had also contacted him.
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