Over 300 U.S. Firms Targeted By North Korean Job Scam

An Arizona woman was sentenced to over eight years of prison for helping North Korean hackers.

The hackers used the woman’s help to pretend to be American workers and secure remote job positions at over 300 U.S. companies. The fraud, reported by ArsTechnica, funneled millions of dollars back to North Korea.

ArsTechnica reports how Christina Chapman operated a “laptop farm” from her home. She received corporate laptops which North Korean operatives used to pretend they worked as U.S.-based remote employees.

Whilst logging in from China and North Korea, the operatives used VPNs and AnyDesk remote software to access devices, participate in Zoom meetings, and received paychecks.

ArsTechnica reports that Chapman admitted to sending I-9 forms and occasionally shipping equipment to a Chinese city near the North Korean border. She explained to the judge that she accepted the position to support her mother during cancer treatment while believing she was helping others.

She wrote, “the area where we lived didn’t provide for a lot of job opportunities that fit what I needed. I also thought that the job was allowing me to help others. ”

She also apologized, thanking the FBI for catching her and expressing plans to start an underwear company and publish books after prison. But authorities said the damage was real.

ArsTechnica reports that one identity theft victim described the emotional toll in court:

“Although identity theft is not a physical assault, the psychological and financial damage is lasting. It feels like someone broke into my life, impersonated me, and left me to pick up the pieces. There is a lingering fear that my information is still out there, ready to be misused again.”

The FBI discovered more than 90 laptops at Chapman’s residence, which included identification notes for each fake worker. ArsTechnica reports that Chapman received a 102-month prison sentence and must surrender $284,999 and pay back $176,000.