Amazon has blocked more than 1,800 job applications linked to suspected North Korean operatives. Amazon chief security officer Stephen Schmidt revealed the move publicly. He shared the details in a LinkedIn post. The applicants targeted remote IT roles across the company. They relied on stolen or fabricated identities to bypass hiring safeguards.
Remote Jobs Used to Fund North Korean Programs
Schmidt said the applicants followed a direct and organized plan. They sought employment, collected salaries, and sent wages back to North Korea. The funds supported weapons development and other state programs. Schmidt warned the activity likely affects the broader technology sector. He said US companies remain the primary targets.
US and South Korean authorities have issued repeated alerts. They have tracked online scams linked to North Korean operatives. Officials said these schemes increasingly target Western employers.
Amazon Sees Significant Rise in Suspicious Applications
Amazon recorded a nearly one-third increase in suspicious applications over the past year. Schmidt said many operatives relied on partners inside the United States. These partners operated so-called laptop farms. The farms used computers physically based in the US. Operators controlled the devices remotely from abroad.
Amazon deployed artificial intelligence tools alongside staff verification. Employees screened applications and reviewed identity indicators. The company relied on these measures to prevent coordinated fraud.
Fraud Tactics Become More Sophisticated
Schmidt said the techniques have grown more advanced. Bad actors hijack dormant LinkedIn accounts using leaked credentials. They impersonate real software engineers to appear credible. Schmidt urged companies to report suspicious applications to authorities.
He advised employers to monitor warning signs. These include incorrectly formatted phone numbers and inconsistent education histories. Such details often reveal fraudulent identities.
US Authorities Dismantle Laptop Farm Networks
In June, the US government uncovered 29 illegal laptop farms nationwide. North Korean IT workers operated the farms remotely. They used stolen or forged American identities. The Department of Justice said the scheme helped secure jobs at US companies.
Prosecutors also charged US brokers who assisted the operation. In July, a woman from Arizona received a prison sentence exceeding eight years. She ran a large laptop farm network. The operation placed workers at more than 300 US companies. Authorities said the scheme generated more than $17m in illegal gains for her and Pyongyang.
