How the Chinese recruited former US military personnel to give up secrets
In short, Chinese agents posted jobs for a fake consulting firm. They looked for applicants with the "right skills" and knowledge they wanted who were not able to find good employment after their service in the military or government contracting. They were hired and offered fat pay to write reports for said fake consulting firm.
In short, this is why veterans need to be taken care of and be put at the front of the line in hiring.
U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters from the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. perform an aerial refueling mission with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron from March ARB, Calif., May 14, 2013 off the coast of Northwest Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing is a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing that trains Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35 Lightning II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Released)
Under the directive of Chinese intelligence operatives, Yeo created a fake consulting company using the name of a prominent U.S. firm that engages in government relations, the court document said. He then posted listings on a job search website, and received more than 400 resumes. Around 90 percent of these resumes were from U.S. military and government officers with security clearances.
He also used a professional career-focused networking site to spot target individuals, checking the site on a near-daily basis, according to the court document. The Chinese agents also directed him to especially seek out those who had financial difficulties and job dissatisfaction.
Through the networking website, Yeo recruited a U.S. Air Force employee working on the F-35B military aircraft and obtained intelligence about the “geopolitical implications” of an aircraft deal with Japan.
Yeo also managed to build rapport with a U.S. Army officer who responded to his job posting. The officer, who confided in Yeo about being traumatized during military tours in Afghanistan, later drafted reports about the impact on China following the United States’ withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, for which Yeo paid him around $2,000. Yeo told the officer the report was for clients in South Korea and other Asian countries.