Honey trapping
Honey trapping is a practice involving the use of romantic or sexual relationships for interpersonal, political, or monetary purpose. The honey pot or trap involves making contact with an individual who has information or resources required by a group or individual; the trapper will then seek to entice the target into a false relationship in which they can glean information or influence over the target.
The term "honey trap" is also used when dating sites are used to gain access to a victim.
Private investigators are often employed to create a honey pot by wives, husbands, and other partners usually when an illicit romantic affair is suspected of the "target", or subject of the investigation Occasionally, the term may be used for the practice of creating an affair for the purpose of taking incriminating photos for use in blackmail. A honey trap is used primarily to collect evidence on the subject of the honey trap. Honey trapping is also used in getting a new user addicted to illegal drugs and also for drug smuggling.
Espionage
Honey trapping has a long history of use in espionage.During the Cold War, female agents called "Mozhno girls" or "Mozhnos" were used by the KGB of the USSR to spy on foreign officials by seducing them. The name Mozhno comes from the Russian word "mozhno", meaning "it is permitted", as these agents were allowed to breach regulations restricting Russian contact with foreigners.
In 2009, the British MI5 distributed a 14-page document to hundreds of British banks, businesses, and financial institutions, titled "The Threat from Chinese Espionage." It described a wide-ranging Chinese effort to blackmail Western business people over sexual relationships. The document explicitly warns that Chinese intelligence services are trying to cultivate "long-term relationships" and have been known to "exploit vulnerabilities such as sexual relationships to pressurise individuals to co-operate with them."
Honey trapping by the Israeli Mossad was specifically endorsed by a rabbi who described it as an ancient and honorable practice dating to biblical times. Alleged victims of Mossad honey trapping include scientist Mordechai Vanunu and playwright Ziad Ahmad Itani.