FBI shuts down a network of fake sites tied to Chinese recruitment of U.S. officials

Federal authorities seized more than a dozen websites they say were used by suspected Chinese agents to recruit current and former U.S. officials with security clearances. The sites allegedly posed as consulting firms, used AI-generated images and identity theft, and targeted individuals with postings on topics like China–U.S. relations, Iran, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Recruits were paid through cryptocurrency and overseas bank accounts. It’s unclear whether any classified information was ever shared, and the defendants denied foreign-government involvement in a DOJ press release.