Russian Spies and Real Estate Agents - What is the Connection?
In a follow-up to the a post I wrote on the Russian spy ring, 10 agents who infiltrated the lives of suburban America were sent back to their country this week in exchange for people of interest to the United States. It turned into the biggest spy swap since the Cold War.
After pleading guilty in court the ten were sentenced to time served and were swiftly deported. In return, four of ours who have been held in prison for allegedly contacting Western intelligence agencies while in the employ of the Soviet government were sent back to the U.S.
What is it about this story has so captured the interest of a nation?
Russian citizens who were gathering intelligence for the Soviet Union were able to embed themselves into the lives of Americans. Living a model upper-middle class existence they used fake passports, phony identities and secret code words and completely stunned their neighbors when they were arrested for espionage.
And, of particular interest was the fact that two of the spies were actually real estate agents.
Anna Chapman owned and operated an online real estate company in New York and promoted her services through Facebook where she posted numerous glamour shots of herself. Chapman's LinkedIn profile implied that she was a serial entrepreneur with many ties the to the New York business scene.
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, Tracey Lee Ann Foley was working for Redfin, a Seattle based real estate company and had been previously employed by Weichert and Channing Real Estate. Redfin's background check showed no criminal record and an excellent sales history.
But, really, who would have considered the possibility that Russians are actually even interested in spying on us in 2010? And, under the guise of real estate agents? Truly shocking.
Most of these spies behaved much like typical American families watering their plants and watching their children playing in the yard. When they were taken away in handcuffs their neighbors could not have been more astonished.
It begs the question of just who the people are who are living quietly around you.
And, more importantly - could your real estate agent be a spy?
Copyright 2010 "Russian Spies and Real Estate Agents - What is the Connection?"
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It just goes to show that the concept of espionage can reach every corner of the workforce. Beware of who you are doing business with...you can never be too careful.