China's Ministry of State Security has warned university students to beware of high-paying job offers that may be traps set by foreign spies. The alert comes ahead of a record graduation season, with 12.7 million students entering a shaky job market. Such postings promise easy money but aim to recruit students for illegally gathering sensitive information, the ministry said.
China's Ministry of State Security posted a notice on social media on Thursday, urging university students to be wary of job offers with salaries far exceeding industry standards. Positions such as remote data processing or research projects promising 800 yuan (US$117) a day could be 'traps' to recruit students for foreign intelligence agencies to illegally collect sensitive information.
"Be wary of promises of salaries that far exceed industry standards," the ministry said.
It also cautioned that such traps may request supplementary résumé details, including past internships in military units or experience in classified research projects.
Some 12.7 million university students are expected to graduate this summer, up 4 per cent from last year. Most will enter a labour market burdened by deflationary pressures and external uncertainties.
