Computer scientists from North Korea are looking for a job by teleworking to steal easy money

Anxiety prevails in FBI which calls on American companies to be vigilant as North Koreans take advantage of the possibilities offered by teleworking in order to hide their true identities and make money on behalf of Pyongyang. The goal is to bypass UN sanctions and inflow money to meet the financing needs of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile program.

“There are thousands of North Korean IT workers both at home and abroad who generate revenue that goes to the North Korean government,” the img said.

“These IT workers are taking advantage of the demand for specialist know-how in the IT sector. Informaticssuch as the development of software for mobile applications to secure self-employment contracts from clients around the world, including North America, Europe, and East Asia, “the statement said. cites Reuters.

They refuse video calls

Many of the North Korean workers pretend to be from South Korea or Japan or other Asian countries, According to the same information recorded by a series of worrying indications for which, entrepreneurs should be aware. Among them, the refusal to participate in video calls, but also the demands for payments in digital currency.

U.S. officials estimate that North Koreans are mainly in China and Russia, with smaller numbers operating in Africa and Southeast Asia. Much of the money they earn is confiscated by the North Korean government, according to the same officials.

The officials also said that companies hiring and paying these employees could face legal consequences for violating sanctions against North Korea.