FBI seizes 13 websites linked to alleged Chinese intelligence-gathering effort

Federal authorities seized 13 domains allegedly operated by suspected Chinese agents that posed as consulting firms to recruit current and former U.S. government and military personnel—particularly those with security clearances—via job listings on platforms like Upwork and Wellfound. Recruiters used aliases, stolen identities, AI-generated photos, encrypted messaging, and cryptocurrency to pay recruits and conceal origins of funds; the FBI has disabled the sites and is investigating allegations of bribery, identity theft, and international money laundering.