Alleged Chinese MSS spy accounts on LinkedIn, posing as think-tank consultants, approached dozens of Australians in government, policing and trade from 2016 to 2025, including staff at Austrade, DFAT and state investment agencies, an AFP commander and now-Opposition Leader Steven Miles, ABC investigation finds
An ABC investigation published on 15 October 2026 found that the same LinkedIn accounts used to groom businessman Alexander Csergo, the first person convicted of reckless foreign interference in Australia, also reached out to many other Australians. LinkedIn records the Australian Federal Police obtained during the Csergo case show two accounts posing as think-tank and consultancy representatives (including 'Vera Su' of 'Nesa Consulting') built thousands of connections worldwide; between 2016 and 2025 they targeted more than 100 people linked to Australia and messaged 58 of them, offering paid consulting work for 'valuable advice' and, in one message, asking for information 'from important people in the government'. Those approached included people listing jobs at Austrade, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Investment NSW, Invest Victoria and Tourism Australia, an AFP commander and senior federal officials; Steven Miles, now Queensland Opposition Leader, was connected to the Vera Su account in April 2021 while deputy premier, though the ABC saw no messages and understands he did not reply. Some recipients shared personal contact details or moved conversations to WeChat, phone calls or meetings. A fictitious security firm, 'Data 31', also sought retired Australian police officers as part-time 'security expert' consultants, contacting at least seven Australians, according to Information Age's summary of the ABC reporting. The AFP alleges the operation was run by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS); the Chinese embassy called the claims 'entirely groundless', and ASIO would not comment. Csergo was approached through LinkedIn in Shanghai in November 2021, convicted in March and sentenced in September to three years and six months' jail; the court heard his reports used publicly available material. The accounts have since been deregistered following the AFP investigation; LinkedIn told Information Age that fake accounts breach its terms and it is focused on state-sponsored abuse. The Five Eyes partners warned in June about Chinese intelligence recruiting through online job platforms.
- Product
- LinkedIn (fake think-tank and consultancy recruiter profiles); targets in Australian government, policing and trade bodies
- Versions
- n/a — social-engineering and foreign-interference campaign (accounts active 2016–2025)
- Exploited in Australia?
- unknown
- Patch to
- Brief staff who list government, policing, defence or trade roles on LinkedIn about unsolicited 'consulting' or think-tank offers that pay for advice or reports, especially those that quickly move to WeChat, phone or in-person meetings. Report suspicious approaches to your agency security adviser and to ASIO's online reporting service, and report fake profiles to LinkedIn. Review what clearances, projects and contacts staff profiles reveal, and remind people that offering to introduce colleagues is itself a request worth reporting.
Primary: ABC News — Alleged Chinese spies targeted former premier and AFP commander via LinkedIn (15 Oct 2026) · Vendor: Information Age (ACS) — Chinese spies use LinkedIn to target Australian officials (20 Oct 2026 AEDT; LinkedIn statement)