The Chinese intelligence officer, who had convinced Thomas Jhao to hand over sensitive information about the US Army, knew that the 24 -year -old American Navy Petty Officer had a passion for the stock market.
The agent approached Zhao in a stock trading chat group on Chinese-owned social media network Wechat, CBS News learned in an interview with those involved in the case. But chat about investment strategies soon entered sensitive areas, including questions about naval exercises and design for radar installations in Pacific.
The Jhao case represents a new dimension for Chinese secret activities that the Counter Intelligence Officer is saying “virtual spy”. Officials told CBS News that this practice, in which Chinese intelligence officers target army members and members of high interest on social media, attract them into correspondence, and remove sensitive information from them, there is a growing danger, the authorities Told CBS News.
Kevin Vernadran, who led the FBI's Counter Intelligence Division, told CBS News in a rare television interview, “They will change every stone and to gather whatever they can do,” Kevin Verndran, who is FBI's Counter Lead the division, described CBS News in a rare television interview. “They are definitely trying to target as many people.”
During two years, a Chinese intelligence officer paid an American citizen and naval engineer Jhao, which was about $ 15,000 to take pictures and videos of restricted areas on the basis of Southern California, where he worked, court records Revealed
With its relatively low rank as well as a low-level safety approval, Zhao could seem like an unexpected target. Nevertheless, Vordran and other US officials told CBS News that intelligence officials working for the Chinese government are trolling professional networking sites including LinkedIn, to seduce an array of members of American service and others who are the US government The safety approval of it keeps to change sensitive information.
“On professional networking sites, army members, former army members, list their resumes,” said Vordran. “This exposes their expertise. And through it, it simplifies to complete targeting by an intelligence service.”
A spokesperson of LinkedIn did not answer the question whether Chinese intelligence officials were using the platform to identify possible goals, but in a statement said that fraud accounts violate the terms of service to the company.
The spokesperson said, “Our teams use a wide variety of automated techniques in collaboration with a team of trained investigation experts and members reporting to help the bad actors stop and have experience on LinkedIn professional.
The strategy is low risk and high reward – an identity of the type of “virtual spy” China When Kovid made it more difficult for detectives to travel abroad, he started bending over it.
“Intelligence officials can sit behind their desk in China and reach many persons at once,” said Ryan Noris, a special agent with the Navy criminal searched service. “They are reaching more and more people and are expected to receive some reactions.”
In the last two years, the federal law enforcement has identified a dozen such cases and has brought allegations against four service members admitted by suspected undercover agents in China. Vorndran said that this type of outreach is worried that the number may be far more.
“We check all that we can identify and bother on an investigation,” Vordran said. “What we do not know are those who worry me and maintain me.”
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy denied the knowledge of the Jhao case, and did not solve a question about whether its intelligence officials were contacting American services online and resolving sensitive information.
Embassy spokesperson said, “China hopes that the United States will stop the risk of so-called 'Chinese espionage' and stop exaggerating 'China Theory Theory', and China-American relations rather than establishing obstacles Will inject more stability in. ” In a statement.
easy money
In August 2023, agent with FBI and NCIS landed on Ventura County Naval Base, grabbed Zhao, and took him to a small room for questioning. A video of the inquiry received by CBS News shows Jhao that he sent sensitive military information to a person found online.
While Jhao said that the person seemed to be “mess”, he did not think he knew that he was working with a Chinese intelligence officer. And when he considered passing with photos working as an easy way to earn money, he reduced any classified information.
“When I tried to cut the relationship with her, it is already late late,” Jhao said in interrogation, saying, telling the federal agents that he was “trapped.”
After interrogation, Zhao was arrested. He later convicted for allegations of bribery and conspiracy, and is currently serving a 27 -month federal sentence. The prosecutors determined that their works did not increase to the level of espionage. Nevertheless, Noris said that he believes that the action of Zhao is for a betrayal.
“He completely cheated his country,” Noris said, who interrogated Zhao during interrogation. “I think he had a relationship in the last two years that he knew that he was nefarious, and I think he was finally caught in what he was doing.”
Jhao's lawyer Tarek Shoki said that his client was also a victim of a scam to some extent. He said that his social media conversations revealed that the Chinese intelligence officer demanded to build a level of faith before asking for sensitive information.
“At a certain point, I think the human situation is that you want to suspend your better decision a little due to that human connection,” said the shocki. “That's why it is so dangerous.”
In an interview with CBS News, Jhao's wife Jianu Rain said her husband confessed to making a mistake, but refused that he would sell his country anytime.
“He is not him,” Rain said. “If he knew that this person was working for the Chinese government or anyone in China, he would not have done so.”
Contributed to this report.
