9 People Caught In North Korean Spy Plot That Conned US Companies To Fund Weapons Program: DOJ

Eight foreign nationals from China and Taiwan, together with a man from New Jersey, have been accused in Boston in connection with what federal investigators describe as a massive conspiracy to covertly transfer funds to North Korea’s WMD program.

Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea

Zhenxing According to the US Attorney for Massachusetts, Danny Wang of New Jersey was detained and charged with assisting North Korean IT workers in posing as Americans in order to obtain remote positions with American businesses.

Allegedly, the people obtained employment at large companies, including a defense contractor, by using stolen identities. According to authorities, the North Korean regime received at least $5 million from this swindle.

US Attorney Leah B. Foley stated that the threat presented by DPRK agents is imminent and real. We will keep up our tireless efforts to safeguard American companies and make sure they aren’t unintentionally supporting the DPRK’s hazardous and illegal goals.

In order to fool employers into believing they were recruiting real American labor, North Korean workers used proxy computers, phony websites, social media accounts, and phony email and job site accounts. Employers even gave their employees computers, and they utilized specialized technology to access corporate networks from abroad.

One California defense company that produces AI-powered equipment was targeted, according to officials. Hackers obtained sensitive information, including data governed by arms export laws, without authorization.

According to John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the Department’s National Security Division, these schemes target and steal from US corporations in an effort to circumvent sanctions and finance the illegal activities of the North Korean regime.

In order to collect and transfer funds for the workers, Wang and others are said to have established US bank accounts and shell corporations. According to investigators, they even converted residential residences into laptop farms, where they kept and operated the machines that were used to perpetrate the scam.

Over 100 US businesses were impacted overall. According to reports, companies lost more than $3 million in legal fees, IT cleanup, and other expenses.

“This is just the beginning of the issue,” FBI Special Agent Rafik Mattar cautioned. To carry out such operations against US corporations on a regular basis, the North Korean government has educated and deployed thousands of IT professionals.

Authorities are advising businesses to confirm the names of remote employees and notify the FBI of any questionable activities.