[Cross-Strait] Fake Human Rights Group Invites Discussion on Transnational Repression; Anti-CCP Projection Pioneer Sees Through Phishing Email at a Glance
bellala 央廣1d agoEdited
The overseas organization 'China Action' continues to carry out a series of anti-CCP projection actions at Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, causing the CCP 'a lot of headaches'. Thus, they resorted to their old tricks, sending a phishing email to Su Yutong, spokesperson for 'China Action', impersonating the 'Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association' (TAHR) and inviting her to share her experience of encountering transnational repression in Germany. However, the email was full of flaws and was seen through at a glance. #Reported by Reporter Cheng Kuan-jen#
Received Phishing Email After 'Wishing Xi Jinping a Happy Birthday'
This month, the human rights organization 'China Action' launched the June 4th 'Road to Light' campaign, conducting a series of anti-CCP projections at multiple Chinese embassies and consulates. Recently, they also 'wished' Chinese President Xi Jinping a happy birthday by projecting an image of a soldier looking back with the words 'Come on, I don't shoot my people' onto the main gate of the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C., urging the People's Liberation Army to reflect on 'who their guns should be pointed at'. 'The people should not be your enemies, but those you should protect.'
'China Action' projects 'Come on, I don't shoot my people' at the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. (Provided by China Action)
Less than two days after this 'birthday wish action', Su Yutong, spokesperson for 'China Action', received an email with the subject line 'Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association Cooperation Invitation: Sharing Experience of Transnational Repression'. The content read: 'Dear Ms. Su Yutong, I am Shi Yixiang from the Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association (TAHR), responsible for transnational repression and the protection of refugees. We have long been following your persistent projection protests of 'China Action' in Berlin, and your brave efforts in documenting and publicly confronting transnational repression. We are deeply impressed and grateful. We hope to invite you to share actual cases and coping strategies for transnational repression encountered in Germany. You can choose to share in writing or through a brief online exchange; the format and scope of content are entirely up to you.'
Email Content Full of Flaws, Even Impersonating 'Someone Known'
From the email account to the text content, it was evident that something was wrong. Moreover, when Su Yutong was a journalist, she had interviewed Shi Yixiang, a senior researcher at the Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association, and was also aware of the content of the phishing email received by 'Chongqing Hero' Qi Hong in the UK. Therefore, no matter how it was verified, the fake email could be seen through.
Su Yutong: '(Original voice) It is definitely related to our projection action at the Chinese Embassy in the United States this time. The Chinese Embassy in the United States is a very important political symbol of the CCP regime abroad. It can be said that this time it was completely breached by us, and they are in a state of losing control. I think this is a routine retaliatory measure after they were enraged.'
Su Yutong said that the CCP is very concerned about its image. Their repeated projections express what people within China dare not say, and the actions themselves make the CCP feel ashamed. Therefore, sending this phishing email is just an attempt to lure them into revealing who their organization members are and how they mobilize.
Shi Yixiang Also Received Phishing Emails; Czech Foundation's Email Was Hacked
Shi Yixiang mentioned that such state-sponsored social attacks frequently occur against human rights groups and Chinese dissidents. He has seen phishing emails in the name of the 'Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association' before. This is the first time he has seen his name used to send a phishing email. His first reaction was 'The CCP is at it again.' In fact, such behavior falls under the scope of long-arm jurisdiction and cross-border repression.
The email Su Yutong received had a fabricated email account, not Shi Yixiang's official TAHR account. Shi Yixiang said that about two or three months ago, he received an email from the Czech 'Forum 2000 Foundation' inviting him to participate in related activities. Because it seemed suspicious, he verified through social media whether they had actually sent the email. Later, it was confirmed that their researcher's email account had been compromised. He said that now, if similar fake emails are received, one can download the entire email and analyze the source code to determine its authenticity.
Shi Yixiang: '(Original voice) For any account login now, it is essential to set up two-factor authentication as much as possible, because we have found that many of our colleagues who do not have two-factor authentication set up quickly have their entire organizational or personal accounts taken away and cannot get them back.'
To Avoid Falling Victim, Verification is Essential, and Greed Must Be Avoided
Su Yutong wants to remind Chinese democratic protesters overseas that when they receive such emails, they must verify them first. Su Yutong: '(Original voice) For example, if the email mentions a certain organization, and you don't recognize it, it's okay. You can contact organizations like 'Humanitarian China' in the US, or even myself. Because I was a journalist, I have connections with many human rights organizations, especially Taiwanese human rights organizations, including 'Humanitarian China', and international organizations like 'Safeguard Defenders', 'Front Line Defenders' in Ireland, 'Amnesty International'. You can seek help from them, including 'Teacher Li' on Twitter, and Mr. Zhou Fengsuo, many very active human rights activists.'
Secondly, generally, such phishing emails will offer a reward or emphasize the opportunity to gain fame. Su Yutong said that at this point, one must be even more cautious and avoid greed, and then it will be less likely to fall victim.
She also called on the CCP to stop wasting time designing traps for them and instead release Chinese conscientious objectors and open up internet freedom in China, which would be the only way to stop their 'Road to Light' campaign.
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215318
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