Arabic version: إف بي آي يصادر موقعاً ينتحل صفة شركة استشارات في بريزبن

According to The Guardian, a website impersonating Brisbane-based consultancy Horizzen was among 13 sites seized by the FBI during an ongoing investigation into alleged Chinese espionage. The fake operation used Horizzen’s company name, business address, phone number and content while presenting a different design.

From mid-2025, Horizzen received emails and unusual calls from people applying for vague US jobs, despite the small firm not hiring. Some applicants sent detailed CVs and cover letters to its Australian email address after apparently believing the legitimate company and the impersonating website were the same organisation.

The FBI obtained a warrant to seize the Horizzen-lookalike site within 24 hours of a public warning issued in early June by intelligence agencies from Australia, the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand. The agencies said Chinese spies were allegedly using fake consultancies and online recruiter profiles to seek people with valuable knowledge, later pressing successful applicants for more privileged information.

In a court affidavit, a senior FBI officer alleged the 13 websites were created to recruit people in the United States to obtain sensitive and possibly classified information in exchange for payments on China’s behalf. The FBI said the sites used aliases, stolen identities and AI-generated photographs. The Chinese embassy in Canberra rejected the allegation, saying the US accusation had no factual basis and was “purely smears and denigration.”

Horizzen said confirmation of the investigation brought “shock and disbelief” and raised concerns about reputational damage. While suspicious contacts have stopped, the firm urged businesses and individuals to treat unexpected approaches, strange websites and apparent impersonation seriously. Five Eyes agencies advised people who believe they have dealt with a suspicious recruiter or consultancy to report details and disengage.