It’s a shock for which you are not ready!
An influencer of Tiktok based in the United States was sentenced to prison for helping North Korean agents land jobs in more than 300 American companies, including targets in technology, aerospace and possibly crypto.
Christina Marie Chapman, 50, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for organizing a complex operation which allowed the North Korean IT workers to pretend to be American employees. The authorities claim that its actions have helped the regime to channel more than $ 17 million in the United States, while endangering sensitive industries.
A distance scam with global issues
Chapman directed what the investigators described as a “laptop farm” of his home in Arizona. It used stolen or borrowed identities to help North Korean workers apply to distant jobs.
Once hired, laptops sent by American companies were connected to agents based near North Korea, which gives the impression that work was done inside the United States
She even sent at least 49 aircraft abroad, especially in a city near the Chinese-Korea border. A search of his house in 2023 discovered more than 90 laptops, many of which tagged false or stolen identities.
Its configuration helped them to access business systems, receive payments through American banks and send this money abroad under false names.
Over 300 companies Dupped – The Crypto not spared!
According to the Ministry of Justice, at least 68 stolen identities were used to deceive 309 American companies and two international companies to hire North Korean workers. Some of these job applications have even targeted American government agencies, although these attempts have failed.
Although specific crypto companies are not named, the industry is firmly in the fire line.
North Korea has long history of the use of false distant work to integrate workers into Western companies, in particular cryptographic startups.
In fact, a Chainalysis report shows that hackers linked to RPDC stole $ 1.34 billion in cryptocurrency in 2024 only.
Crypto hiring needs to verify reality
Cryptographic space often has fewer checks in place for remote roles. This is exactly what makes him attractive for North Korean agents, according to American intelligence reports.
Despite the increased efforts to the police, officials believe that hundreds of IT workers related to PDRs are still active in global companies, especially in crypto.
