Russian Spies' Training secrets revealed: How they targeted 'Silicon Valley idiots'

New Delhi: A former Russian spy living in the United States has revealed how she and her team were trained to become "sex spies." In an interview, she described how they were trained to seduce and manipulate their targets. This former agent, named Alia Roza, revealed that she was trained as a 'seduction agent' as a teenager. She explained that when she fell in love with one of her intelligence targets, she was expelled from Russia.

A Dangerous 'Playbook' of Spying

In an interview with the New York Post, Alia revealed that she went public with her story at the behest of her lawyer. She explained that spies use all kinds of emotional tricks to extract information from their targets. “They observe the target, then gradually become involved in their life,” she said. “They play on their emotions, show sympathy, and try to obtain information through any means necessary.”

How is the target contacted?

According to Alia, “Before making direct contact with a target, the spy appears in their life at least seven times in some capacity—sometimes at a coffee shop, sometimes at the gym, or on social media.”

“By the time they actually meet for the first time, the person’s mind starts to consider you trustworthy,” she explained.

‘Love Bombing’ is the Next Step

She explained that once a friendship is formed with the target, the next step is “love bombing”—constantly sending messages, compliments, selfies, or attractive photos. “They portray themselves as weak or lonely—saying, ‘My parents are gone,’ ‘I’m poor,’ ‘I need help.’ This makes the other person feel like a ‘hero,’” Alia said.

Once trust is established, the agent begins to mentally weaken the target. "She'll say things like, 'Your boss doesn't value you,' 'Your colleagues are using you.' Gradually, the target begins to believe that she truly understands them, and the rest of the world is wrong."

How is the information extracted?

According to Alia, as the relationship deepens, the agent pressures them. "She'll say, 'If you don't give me this information now, I'll leave forever.' Under fear and emotional pressure, people reveal things they would never reveal under normal circumstances."

Why are technology professionals easy targets?

Alia explained that people in the tech industry are easy targets because they are often immersed in work and socially isolated. "They are geniuses at their work but inexperienced in relationships. This makes it easy for a woman to emotionally trap them," she said. Alia warned Silicon Valley professionals to be wary of sudden "romantic attention." She explained that she received a US green card in 2020 and had never conducted any operations in the US. Her missions were primarily in the UK and Europe.