Fake LinkedIn profiles, Webex, and Fiverr: Inside the North Korean IT worker scheme roiling the Fortune 500

Quick Summary:

The IT worker scam has impacted Fortune 500 companies that authorities say unwittingly hired thousands of North Korean engineers pretending to be Americans.

The UN estimated the workers generate about $250 million to $600 million from their salaries per year.  The money is used to fund North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, according to the Department of Justice, FBI, and State Department.

From there, Raney learned he would be required to send 70% of any salary he earned in a potential job to the Bens using crypto, PayPal, or Payoneer, while they would handle creating a doctored LinkedIn profile for him as well as job applications.

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Article Details

Author / Journalist: Amanda Gerut

Category: EconomyBusiness

Markets: United StatesNorth Korea

Topics: Kim Jong-un Hackers Cryptocurrency Fraud

Source Website Secure: Yes (HTTPS)

News Sentiment: Neutral

Fact Checked: Legitimate

Article Type: News Report

Published On: 2025-04-16 @ 11:15:00 (5 days ago)

News Timezone: GMT +8:00

News Source URL: fortune.com

Language: English

Article Length: 1155 words

Reading Time: 7 minutes read

Sentences: 4 lines

Sentence Length: 289 words per sentence (average)

Platforms: Desktop Web, Mobile Web, iOS App, Android App

Copyright Owner: © Fortune

News ID: 27947783

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Official Website: fortune.com

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News Last Updated: 8 hours ago

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