The Justice Department (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized 13 domains on June 10 that authorities say were operated by suspected Chinese intelligence agents targeting current and former U.S. security clearance holders through fraudulent consulting job offers.
The websites posed as consulting firms advertising “Senior Analyst” and “International Affairs Consultant” roles on platforms including LinkedIn. Operators used AI-generated photographs, stolen identities, cryptocurrency, and encrypted messaging apps including Telegram to conceal their identities, court documents show.
Justice Department, FBI Disable 13 Websites Backed by Suspected Chinese Agents Who Sought Sensitive U.S. Information From Security Clearance Holders: The conspirators created at least 13 fake consulting company websites and associated job postings to target and recruit current… pic.twitter.com/7CV5eeE3Yx
— FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) June 10, 2026
“These domain seizures offer a glimpse at how foreign actors can use promises of easy money to lure Americans into revealing sensitive or classified information that they are duty-bound to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.
Seized domains included firms named Centrik Global Consulting, Rightinfo Consulting, Finnacle-Vesper Consulting, CYDF Consulting, Pulse Wave Global, and SafeSec Group. DOJ said the operation began in November 2023.
The U.S. DOJ seized 13 domains used in a Chinese intelligence scheme that deployed fake consulting firms and AI-generated personas to recruit American security clearance holders for classified information.
Link in thread. pic.twitter.com/LT0W3iG0I2— The Epoch Times – China Insider (@EpochTimesChina) June 11, 2026
The seizures came six days after the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance issued a joint bulletin warning that Chinese military intelligence was using LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork to target government and military personnel with access to classified information. DOJ said the actions are part of a broader Western counterintelligence effort.
FBI special agent Dan Wierzbicki said tips came from targets who grew suspicious of unusual payments. “They provided information and said, ‘Hey, this is kind of weird, we’re kind of getting paid by a cryptocurrency or an online payment system that’s not typical,'” he said.
Federal layoffs pushed thousands of government workers into an uncertain job market, expanding the pool of potential targets. In November, Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Lt. Gen. Anthony R. Hale issued a memo to more than one million Army personnel warning of similar threats.
The Chinese embassy in Washington called the espionage allegations “entirely fabricated” and “malicious slander.”
