FBI Warns Government Workers of Fake Job Offers From Chinese Intelligence Agencies

An FBI alert cautions current and former federal employees—especially in Georgia—that Chinese intelligence services are using deceptive job offers to target workers with access to sensitive information.

Kelly McBride Ni

Published: 12/12/2025, 11:18:52 PM EST

FBI Warns Government Workers of Fake Job Offers From Chinese Intelligence Agencies — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters in Washington on Nov. 6, 2023.(Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

The FBI has issued a renewed warning that China’s intelligence services are using fraudulent job offers to target current and former U.S. government employees, part of an effort by foreign operatives to exploit professional networking platforms and obtain sensitive national security information.

On Dec. 10, the FBI’s Atlanta field office issued an alert warning that China’s intelligence services are targeting current and former U.S. government employees with fraudulent job offers. The agency urged vigilance, cautioning: “Don’t take the bait. Don’t put our future at risk. If you get a suspicious request for information, report it to the FBI.”

Federal authorities warn that fake job offers from China are a growing trend, which commonly fabricate recruiter identities, dangle lucrative remote positions, and manipulate targets into divulging non-public or classified information.

The FBI advisory cautioned: “Current and former U.S. government employees should be aware that China’s intelligence services may be targeting you, using deceptive online job offers. Their goal? Obtaining sensitive U.S. government information.”

The FBI Atlanta office’s renewed alert is especially significant for Georgia, where there are more than 106,000 federal employees, according to mid-March 2025 data from the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute.

Over half of Georgia’s federal workforce resides in the Atlanta metro area, with thousands more based in Augusta, Savannah, and Columbus.

Major federal employers in Georgia include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), employing around 13,000 people, and Robins Air Force Base, which supports about 17,000 federal employees.

However, these figures may have declined due to reductions in the federal workforce over the past year. The 2025 federal government shutdown, as reported by Atlanta News First, had far-reaching impacts on federal employees—including those at the CDC in Atlanta.

Nationwide, more than 4,000 federal workers received layoff notices, including CDC staff in Atlanta. Approximately 1,100 to 1,300 CDC employees in Atlanta were initially notified of layoffs during the shutdown, though some notices were later rescinded.

'Red Flags to Look Out For'

Counterintelligence officials note that deceptive job-recruitment tactics have played a significant role in past espionage cases, including incidents where former intelligence officers were contacted through fake online identities.

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center detailed common warning signs, noting: “Here are some red flags to look out for: excessive flattery or knowledge of your professional or personal life; offers to perform favors like assisting with visas or paying for hotels, travel, and meals.”

Other red flags of fake job offers include “lack of a professional or verified online presence, and use of personal email addresses or encrypted messaging apps to discuss job opportunities.”

“The reality is, if a job sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” states the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

Anyone who encounters suspicious recruitment outreach should notify their security officer or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.