A network of fake companies attempting to recruit laid-off U.S. federal government workers has been identified as a front for a Chinese technology firm’s recruitment operation. It could pose significant risks to American national security.
According to a new report released by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a total of four fake companies make up the network, and all share the same IP address as a real Chinese Internet services company called Smiao Intelligence.
Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior analyst Max Lesser claims the operation is likely “part of a broader network of fake consulting and headhunting firms targeting former government employees and AI researchers.” Concerningly, the front companies advertised on websites like LinkedIn, telling prospective candidates that they were headhunters for jobs at think tanks and academic institutions.
Reuters investigated the companies and found little information, noting that phone calls and emails went unanswered. The recruitment listings on LinkedIn were also removed.
RiverMerge Strategies is one of the companies named by Reuters and appears to have offices in Colorado and Singapore. While the company’s U.S. phone number is no longer in service, it also listed a Chinese number linked to the IT company Si Xun Software Co., Ltd. Notably, Si Xun Software appears to have ties to the Chinese military, specifically in the cyber security space. […]
— Read More: thenationalpulse.com
