FBI Seizes 13 Domains Linked to Fake Firms Spying for China
Federal agents shut down fake consulting firm domains allegedly used to extract intel from US government and military personnel.
The FBI pulled the plug on 13 internet domains allegedly operated as fronts for Chinese intelligence gathering. The domains were tied to sham consulting firms designed to lure information out of US government and military employees.
The US Justice Department announced the seizures on Wednesday, framing the operation as part of a broader effort to disrupt foreign espionage networks targeting American national security personnel.
The fake firms reportedly posed as legitimate consulting operations to build trust with targets before extracting sensitive information. The gathered intel allegedly flowed back to suspected Chinese agents.
Domain seizures are a go-to federal tactic for dismantling online infrastructure used in espionage and cybercrime. Thirteen domains in a single sweep signals a coordinated network rather than isolated actors. The investigation appears ongoing.