St. Louis Court Indicts 14 North Koreans in Major Fraud Scheme
In a significant legal move, a federal court in St. Louis has indicted 14 North Koreans, linking them to an elaborate conspiracy designed to extort funds from U.S. companies while reportedly funding the regime’s weapons programs. This shocking revelation sheds light on a complex web of deceit and identity theft that has been operational for several years.
The Allegations: A Scheme Worth Millions
According to the indictment, the accused were part of a much larger group — numbering around 130 North Korean IT workers — who have been creating waves in the U.S. job market. These individuals allegedly used false, stolen, and borrowed identities from Americans and other people around the world to secure remote work with firms in the U.S. over a span of six years, resulting in a staggering $88 million (£51.5 million) profit for North Korea’s government.
Prosecutors claim that the North Korean suspects were employed by two companies — the China-based Yanbian Silverstar and the Russia-based Volasys Silverstar. These firms often referred to their employees as “IT Warriors”, showcasing a battle-like mentality in their corporate structure.
High Salaries and Extortion Payments
Among the bold claims outlined in the indictment is that these suspects sought monthly salaries of approximately $10,000 from their U.S. employers. But their income wasn’t solely dependent on their legitimate work; they also engaged in illegal activities, stealing sensitive company data and threatening to leak it unless their employers paid extortion fees.
How the Scheme Worked
What’s particularly intriguing is the clever tactics employed by these workers to maintain their anonymity. By using stolen identities, they managed to evade detection while working remotely. On top of this, they allegedly recruited individuals residing in the U.S. to assist in their operation. These accomplices were tasked with receiving and setting up laptops from U.S. employers, which were then configured to allow remote access software installation. This deception enabled the North Koreans to operate under the guise of being in the United States while actually being stationed overseas.
Legal Consequences and Reward Initiative
The fallout from this scandal has started, with the indicted individuals facing serious charges including wires fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Surprisingly, investigators suspect that these individuals are currently residing in North Korea, making it unlikely that they will ever see a courtroom in the U.S.
In a bid to track down these culprits, the U.S. State Department has announced a substantial reward of up to $5 million for details that could help authorities locate the indicted suspects or the companies involved, Yanbian Silverstar and Volasys Silverstar.
The Bigger Picture
Ashley T. Johnson, a special agent in charge of the St. Louis FBI office, shared a strong remark on the situation, stating, “While we have disrupted this group and identified its leadership, this is just the tip of the iceberg.” She emphasized that North Korea has been training and deploying many more IT workers who continue to execute similar scams against U.S. companies daily.
A Global Concern
This indictment brings to light not just the individuals involved but also the broader implications of foreign interference in the cybersecurity landscape. While North Korea’s mission to the United Nations has not commented on the indictment, the case underscores the growing vulnerabilities many companies face in today’s digital age.
As the details continue to emerge, one can’t help but wonder how many other companies may have unknowingly fallen victim to this extensive network of North Korean IT deceivers. While justice may seem a distant hope for these defendants, the urgency to address the issue is clearer than ever.
