North Korean nationals steal $1M in crypto via remote jobs at blockchain firms
2025-07-01 10:23:07
Main Idea
Four North Korean nationals were charged by the US Department of Justice for stealing approximately $1 million in cryptocurrency by posing as remote IT workers at blockchain firms.
Key Points
1. The individuals, Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju, and Chang Nam Il, used fabricated identities and fake documents to gain employment at blockchain startups.
2. Between 2020 and 2022, Jong Pong Ju stole $175,000 in crypto, while Kim Kwang Jin siphoned $740,000, transferring funds to accounts controlled by Kang and Chang.
3. The group operated from the United Arab Emirates, using stolen identities and aliases like 'Bryan Cho' and 'Peter Xiao' to infiltrate companies.
4. The DOJ's charges are part of the 'DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative' launched in 2024 to disrupt North Korea's cybercrime operations.
5. Authorities seized over 200 computers and 20 fraudulent websites linked to North Korean operatives, who used 'laptop farms' to appear as legitimate US-based workers.
Description
The US Department of Justice has charged four North Korean nationals who posed as IT workers at blockchain startups to siphon roughly $1 million in cryptocurrencies using insider access. Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju, and Chang Nam Il were indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering for infiltrating blockchain firms and stealing cryptocurrency, a recent press release from the DOJ noted. The four North Korean nationals, operating under false identities, were able to secure ...
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