FBI: NJ college kids being ‘cultivated’ as spies overseas (WATCH)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning Jersey college students participating in overseas exchange programs that they may be targeted by officials of foreign countries, and cultivated as possible future spies.

According to New Jersey FBI Special Agent Celeste Danzi, the Bureau has seen an increase in the number of U.S. students targeted overseas by officials from other countries. The special agent said these officials try to develop relationships with young Americans in the hopes of someday convincing the students - who may wind up working for the government someday - to supply them with compromising documents and other sensitive information that could weaken the United States.

“They cultivate these students and then they want them to gain information, gain access through their position to the U.S. government," Danzi said. "Over a long period of time they’re cultivated, they become friends, they have to be very wary when they’re approached by a foreign person overseas."

Danzi points out students should be suspicious and "especially skeptical of something that involves a government process like a visa application, an offer to obtain a visa or a residency permit.”

She said the specific number of cases where this has happened is now classified.

“It’s potentially a serious problem, even if it’s one person who is cultivated in this manner, because if they do wind up working for the government they could be responsible for a very serious security breach," Danzi said.

According to Danzi, many students may not even realize that this is happening.

“We know from our own intelligence reports that foreign governments are very interested in what our U.S students are studying and what they plan to do when they return to the United States," Danzi said.

So students are approached, what should they do?

“You can contact your local FBI office here in the United States, but overseas you can go to the U.S. embassy,” Danzi said.

The FBI has conducted awareness programs and shown a video called Game of Pawns at several Garden State colleges and universities including: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, Monmouth University, Georgian Court University, Farleigh Dickinson University and at Princeton University for an ROTC group.

Danzi said students should also be very cautious when getting involved in paper-writing exchanges.

“Just be wary. You don’t really know who these people are, students need to be careful, especially if they’re offered something that sounds too good to be true" Danzi said. "Remember there isn’t anything in life for free, there’s almost always a quid pro quo.”