Fired US govt workers, Uncle Xi wants you! – to apply for this fake consulting gig

The Register (UK) ^ | Fri 16 May 2025 | Jessica Lyons

[Salman]

Chinese government snoops - hiding behind the guise of fake consulting companies - are actively trying to recruit the thousands upon thousands of US federal employees who have been fired since President Trump took office.

Cyber and information warfare experts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) uncovered five companies they say are part of a larger Chinese intelligence operation that posted ads on LinkedIn, Craigslist, and other smaller job boards and websites targeting former government employees on the hunt for new gigs.

One Craigslist ad pitched: "Job Opportunities for Recently Laid-Off US Government Employees."

It says: "We understand that career transitions can be challenging, and we are here to help make the process as smooth as possible. If you have recently been impacted by a government downsizing, we encourage you to reach out and see how your experience can contribute to our dynamic organization."

Washington DC-based FDD, which on Friday posted a report about the Chinese campaign, doesn't know if the hiring scam worked. The report's author, senior analyst Max Lesser, declined to comment on any communications he had with former government workers who responded to the job listings.

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; democrats

[oldtech]

Some of thos “recently fired” Democrats & others possibly should be in jail which would make it a little tougher to answer an ad...I would think.

[TalBlack]

“- are actively trying to recruit the thousands upon thousands of US federal employees who have been fired since President Trump took office.“

Did the Chinese do this when other presidents fired hundreds of thousands of government workers?

[asinclair]

Thinking about the major theme of the story, can't see that the Chinese would want discarded Federal workers as undercover agents, let alone any kind of agents. Outside of military and adjacent former hires, I don't see the advantage of them coddling RIFfed IRS, agriculture, USAID, DEI, and the like. Why would the CCP want to reduce the ranks of the unemployed, and the unemployable? Seems to counter the idea of fomenting discord in the USA population.

[VanShuyten]

Crumbs of information add up.

[Texan5]

“we encourage you to reach out and see how your experience can contribute to our dynamic organization.” They want you to do an online interview or two, giving the details of your job duties/what you did-they are looking for any useful bits of info that could be used in spying or other activities that might be used to damage this country. It is a fishing/phishing expedition...