Who are your “friends” on Linked In?
The British counter-intelligence agency MI5 has issued a warning that the person seeking to “link up” with you may be actually a spy from a hostile foreign country.
The UK government notes that “At least 10,000 UK nationals have been approached by fake profiles linked to hostile states, on the professional social network LinkedIn, over the past five years.”
The invitations are typically flowing to those in sensitive government positions and key industries that are interesting to foreign espionage players.
Once connected these people have received invitations to travel or speak at industry conferences and, of course, meet up with a potential “handler.”
The initiative “Think Before You Link” has been endorsed by LinkedIn itself.
Note the cautionary tale of the former CIA officer who was recruited from LinkedIn by China and is now serving a 20 year sentence for spying.
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56812746
Source: https://jeffkoeppel.wordpress.com/2021/04/21/spies-trawling-linked-in/
