U.S. TikTok Influencer Helped North Korean Workers Steal Millions via Crypto

Key Points

1. Christina Marie Chapman was sentenced to 102 months for helping North Korean IT workers pose as U.S. employees, funneling over $17 million out of the U.S.

2. Chapman operated a 'laptop farm' using stolen identities, with over 90 laptops found in her home, many with fake or stolen identities.

3. At least 68 stolen identities were used to trick 309 U.S. companies and two international firms into hiring North Korean workers, some targeting U.S. government agencies.

4. DPRK-linked hackers stole $1.34 billion in cryptocurrency in 2024, highlighting crypto's vulnerability to such schemes.

5. Despite law enforcement efforts, hundreds of DPRK-linked IT workers are still believed to be active in global firms.