Tech Report: Online job scams targeting sensitive personnel

Members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance are warning that fake online profiles and fraudulent job offers are being used to target sensitive information.

(LILAMAX)- Members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance are warning that fake online profiles and fraudulent job offers are being used to target military personnel, intelligence officers and others with access to sensitive information.

The Five Eyes partnership includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

According to a report by The Washington Post, the warning reflects growing concerns that China is using artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to flood professional networking platforms with fake profiles and job opportunities designed to gather information from individuals with access to classified material.

Meanwhile, Meta is scaling back parts of a plan that would have collected employee mouse movements, keystrokes and other workplace activity to help train artificial intelligence systems.

According to an internal memo, employees will now be able to pause data collection for up to 30 minutes at a time and request exemptions from the program. The changes come after employees pushed back against the initiative.

In business news, AT&T shares posted their worst day in eight months as analysts raised concerns about growing competition from SpaceX’s satellite internet ambitions.

An analyst with Oppenheimer warned investors may be underestimating the long-term threat satellite providers could pose to broadband and mobile services. The firm noted that AT&T has significant exposure to the broadband market compared to many telecom competitors.

Authorities are also warning recent college graduates to be on the lookout for employment scams.

Law enforcement agencies say scammers often advertise work-from-home jobs with high pay and flexible schedules to attract job seekers. Investigators say fake job applications are frequently used to collect personal and financial information from victims.

Officials say one major red flag is any job opportunity that requires applicants to send money.