A secretive Chinese network has been trying to recruit former U.S. government employees through fake consulting and job recruitment firms. Research has uncovered that these companies have been posting job ads aimed at recently laid-off workers, particularly those with experience in government, policy analysis, and artificial intelligence.
A Hidden Recruitment Effort
Several companies involved in this scheme were found to have overlapping websites, shared digital infrastructure, and questionable addresses. These firms operated under different names but were linked to the same online network, which appears to be part of a Chinese network targeting former U.S. government employees.
Investigations revealed that some of the listed business addresses led to empty fields or unrelated locations. Phone numbers associated with the companies either went unanswered or were disconnected.
One of the companies, RiverMerge Strategies, claimed to specialize in geopolitical risk consulting. It posted job ads targeting individuals with experience in government agencies and international organizations, aligning with tactics commonly associated with a Chinese network seeking intelligence.
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Another firm, Wavemax Innovation, advertised opportunities specifically for recently laid-off U.S. government employees. However, attempts to contact these companies failed, and their online presence disappeared shortly after investigations began, reinforcing suspicions of a covert Chinese network operating behind these fraudulent recruitment efforts.
Digital Evidence and Espionage Warnings
The companies’ websites were hosted on the same server as Smiao Intelligence, an internet services provider whose site became unavailable during the investigation. While the exact connection between Smiao Intelligence and these firms remains unclear, their online footprints suggest a coordinated effort that may be linked to a Chinese network conducting covert recruitment operations.
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U.S. intelligence analysts believe these recruitment efforts could be part of a broader strategy by a Chinese network to extract sensitive government information. Laid-off workers may be lured with attractive job offers and gradually encouraged to share confidential details about their former roles. Some may unknowingly provide valuable intelligence, while others could be targeted for more direct involvement in espionage-related activities.
Officials warn that foreign intelligence agencies, particularly those tied to a Chinese network, often use recruitment scams disguised as consulting firms or research organizations. In the past, similar tactics have been used to identify and exploit individuals facing financial difficulties or career instability.
Investigators have found that some of the job ads received hundreds of applications, raising concerns about potential data collection and screening of former government employees.
Disguised Operations and Global Links
Investigations traced one of the firms’ contact numbers to a Chinese technology company, Shenzhen Si Xun Software Co., Ltd., which focuses on commercial automation and online retail. While it is unclear how this company is linked to the Chinese network, the shared contact details suggest possible connections.
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RiverMerge Strategies previously listed two addresses—one in Singapore and another in Colorado. A visit to the Singapore location led to a hostel building on an educational campus, while the U.S. address was linked to a business services firm that registers companies on behalf of clients. These inconsistencies further point to the deceptive nature of the network.
Recruitment agents working for these companies reportedly received payments to post job ads and attract applicants. One recruiter admitted to receiving regular payments from contacts in China, indicating an organized effort to expand the network. Emails exchanged between investigative reporters and representatives of these firms also showed an attempt to mislead inquiries, with one recruiter even assuming that the journalist was looking for a job.
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Security agencies have long warned that foreign intelligence services, particularly those linked to a Chinese network, use job recruitment schemes to gain access to classified information.
Past espionage cases have shown that intelligence operatives often pose as consultants or researchers to establish contact with potential targets. Officials emphasize the importance of safeguarding government information and caution former employees against engaging with suspicious job offers.
As investigations continue, the full extent of this recruitment network remains uncertain. However, the available evidence points to a carefully coordinated effort aimed at exploiting the financial and professional vulnerabilities of former federal employees.
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By posing as legitimate consulting and recruitment firms, these entities appear to be strategically targeting individuals who may possess valuable knowledge about government operations. The network’s tactics, including fake job postings, misleading company addresses, and untraceable contacts, suggest a sophisticated approach designed to lure former government workers into unknowingly sharing sensitive information.
