The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service has joined other Five Eyes agencies in warning that China's military intelligence services are using online job and professional networking platforms to target people with access to sensitive information. The bulletin says the activity is affecting Five Eyes countries, including New Zealand.
The warning focuses on approaches made through sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Upwork, where intelligence officers or their affiliates are said to pose as recruiters, consultants, or staff at think tanks and human resources firms. The agencies say the aim is to build relationships with people who may hold classified or privileged information, then draw them into providing material of increasing sensitivity.
Those considered most exposed include national security clearance holders, military personnel, and people working in defence, foreign affairs, security, and intelligence. The agencies say people with indirect access to government information, including academics, journalists, freelance writers, and think tank staff, can also be drawn in because of their links to policy, security, or economic sectors.
How it works
The agencies describe a recruitment pattern that begins with online job advertisements or direct contact on networking and freelance platforms. Candidates are assessed partly on whether their CVs suggest access to useful contacts or information.
Interviews, where they take place, are typically conducted online. Recruiters are said to hide their true identities and may ask military applicants about their roles, units, home bases, or vessels, while others may be asked about government contacts.
At the next stage, applicants may be asked to produce a trial paper on subjects such as China's bilateral relations, the Indo-Pacific, or trade. Later requests then shift toward information that is not public, and conversations are often moved to encrypted messaging services.
The agencies say payment can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars for each report. Money may be sent through payment platforms, bank transfers, cash transfer services, or cryptocurrency, often from accounts held by people unknown to the recruit.
Broader concern
The Five Eyes agencies say China's military intelligence services are seeking military, political, and economic intelligence that could give Beijing a strategic and tactical advantage. They also warn that even information that is not classified can become valuable when combined with other material to create a broader operational picture.
This can include information on government policy, military strategy, installations, and national decision-making. Such material can put frontline military personnel at risk, harm economic interests, and support interference in democratic systems, the agencies say.
Applicants who share CVs and other personal information also face privacy risks. Those who disclose sensitive or classified material without authorisation can face prosecution, job losses, and the loss of security clearances, the agencies say.
The warning is a coordinated message from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes New Zealand, Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US. New Zealand's service had previously raised the issue publicly in 2024 and has now joined its partners in issuing a joint alert.
Andrew Hampton, director-general of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, said the threat is not theoretical in New Zealand.
"New Zealand is not immune from this malicious activity – we know it happens here.
"There are basic steps you can take to protect yourself, most of which is common sense. Be very careful about the information you put online about yourself. We're not saying don't use social media or professional networking sites – just don't tell the world you hold a national security clearance or work with sensitive government or military information.
"Be wary of unsolicited offers or approaches online that appear too good to be true, even if they seem legitimate.
"The NZSIS Protective Security Requirements (PSR) website has a range of information and guidance to support national security clearance holders and anyone with access to sensitive information.
"While NZSIS will do everything we can to detect and disrupt this activity, it is very important that anyone with access to sensitive and classified information understands that they can be targeted.
"Don't become another unwitting victim - this is not something that just happens to other people."