Classified file spy folder professional#

Background research is conducted on the potential agent to identify any ties to a foreign intelligence agency, select the most promising candidates and approach method.

Alternatively, the potential agent may approach the agency many intelligence assets were not recruited but were 'walk-ins' or 'write-ins' who offered information to foreign intelligence services. This individual may be 'developed' over a period of time before the approach is made or it could be made 'cold'. Spotting is the identification of targets-people-who appear to have access to information, or are attractive for some support role. Recruiting process typically begins with 'spotting'. Safe houses, safe mail drops, and safe telephones are other supplementary functions. Other supplementary functions include people who can 'legalise' agents with cover jobs, and specialists that can forge documents or get illicit copies from the actual source. One of the supplementary functions is communications, which includes clandestine radio transmission, dead drops, couriers, and finding places for secure radio transmissions. They may be clandestine officers of the FIS, such as Rudolf Abel, recruited in the target country, or recruited in a third country. In US practice, recruiting agents are called access agents.īoth operation leaders and the supplementary group must be clandestine in support roles to basic agents. Also in the basic group are 'executive agents', who will kill or commit sabotage, and recruiting agents. Basic agents include information providers, perhaps through espionage or expertise about some local subject. īasic agents can be formed into groups with leaders, or report directly to the controller. Other asset roles include support functions such as communications, forgery, disguise, etc.Īccording to Victor Suvorov, a former Soviet military intelligence officer, his service as Soviet officer, under diplomatic or nonofficial cover, handling two kinds of agent: basic and supplementary. Even though such information might be readily visible, the laws of many countries would consider reporting it to a foreign power espionage. 5.1 Recruiting through business relationshipsĪcquiring information may not involve collecting secret documents, but something as simple as observing the number and types of ships in a port.

Classified file spy folder professional#

4.3 Recruitment through professional interests.

3.2 Spotting through emotional attachment.

2.4 Targeting based on intelligence information.

2.3 Persons in allied intelligence agencies.

2.2 Persons with access to knowledgeable people.