The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) is warning airmen and veterans about a deceptive recruitment scheme by foreign intelligence services, disguised as lucrative job offers.
According to an Air Force news release, these offers typically arrive via social media and promote high-paying consulting roles, but are in fact part of a broader effort to extract sensitive information.
The offers usually match the target’s background and experience, making the approach seem trustworthy.
“These aren’t just job offers, they’re intelligence operations in disguise,” said Special Agent Lee Russ, who leads AFOSI’s Office of Special Projects.
According to an unnamed AFOSI counterintelligence analyst cited by the Air Force, the outreach is carefully crafted to appear legitimate. It often begins as a seemingly professional exchange, but over time, the conversation gradually shifts toward policy-related questions.
According to Russ, some people are asked to write short reports or provide commentary on geopolitical issues in exchange for high pay and flexible remote work.
Some even encourage people to move conversations off of trusted platforms like LinkedIn and into private or encrypted channels. These tactics are meant to bypass normal vetting processes and rush individuals into giving information before they suspect anything is wrong.
Officials said that anyone who has ever had access to sensitive information, classified or not, is at risk. That includes active-duty personnel, reservists, civilian employees, contractors, and retirees.
AFOSI urges anyone receiving suspicious messages to report them immediately.
“If you believe you’ve been targeted, or know someone who has, report it,” Russ said. “Whether you’re still in uniform or long since retired, stay sharp. In today’s fight, vigilance online can be just as vital as readiness on the battlefield.”
In an April 2025 memo, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center confirmed that foreign operatives have posed as representatives of think tanks, consulting firms, and research organizations to target individuals across the U.S. government.
The warning follows earlier alerts from U.S. and allied governments. In 2024, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance reported that China had attempted to recruit Western military veterans through companies hiding ties to the Chinese military.
