Chinese Spies Using Linkedin Honeypots 37229972

Chinese spies are using simple strategies to try and obtain secrets from British officials and even citizens, its claimed. The espionage methods include the use of fake emails, accounts and gifts, experts warn.

The secret activities being controlled from Beijing now amount to a "critical threat" to the US and UK, war boffin Anthony Glees said. He told the Sun : “Brits are every bit as much at risk as our key American allies – subjected to espionage running at extremely high levels.”

Earlier this month, two men became the first in British history to be convicted of spying for China in a "shadow policing operation".

And China is now feared to be using new ways to gain access to British secrets. MI5 warned ordinary Brits to watch for online from spooks.

The security service alleged two accounts were being used by agents to "recruit" people with access to secret information. Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen were the names attached to the accounts which both featured headshots of women.

Qiu’s account described herself as a recruiter for “visionary companies with world-class talent” while Shen said she was a "global head-hunter".

Prof Glees said: " offers huge opportunities for Chinese espionage. In order to get noticed and gain promotions people use the platform to relentlessly display expertise.”

When a spy discovers a person that interests them, they "work out an approach". They pose as recruiters or researchers to build long-term relationships and extract sensitive information.

In the case of these two accounts, it is likely they were "honeypots" – an espionage strategy which uses seduction or sex to gain confidential information. MI5 estimates more than 200,000 UK nationals have been approached by Chinese spies online.

Prof Glees added: “China under Xi believes it dominates the globe and that is now within striking distance of becoming the sole superpower of the future.

“In order to prepare itself for that role, it needs to know everything it can any nation it believes will stand in its way.”

It is also feared China is infiltrating Britain's universities. Beijing's agents "befriend" engineering and IT students in London's top universities. Glees said.

The academics are offered glitzy trips to China before they are convinced to UK secrets, Glees said.