Amazon has blocked more than 1,800 job applications linked to suspected North Korean operatives. Amazon chief security officer Stephen Schmidt disclosed the action publicly. He shared the information in a LinkedIn post. The applicants focused on remote IT positions across the company. They used stolen or fabricated identities to defeat hiring checks.
Remote IT Hiring Exploited for Regime Funding
Schmidt said the applicants followed a direct and calculated strategy. They aimed to secure jobs and receive steady salaries. They then redirected wages 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 main targets.
US and South Korean authorities have issued repeated warnings. They have tracked online scams tied to North Korean operatives. Officials said these schemes increasingly target Western employers.
Amazon Sees Sharp Growth in Fraudulent Job Applications
Amazon recorded a nearly one-third increase in suspicious applications over the past year. Schmidt said many operatives worked with partners inside the United States. These partners ran so-called laptop farms. The farms used computers physically based in the US. Operators controlled the devices remotely from abroad.
Amazon combined artificial intelligence tools with staff verification. Employees screened applications and checked identity indicators. The company relied on these measures to stop coordinated fraud attempts.
Identity Manipulation Tactics Continue to Evolve
Schmidt said the fraud techniques have grown more advanced. Bad actors hijack dormant LinkedIn accounts using leaked credentials. They impersonate real software engineers to appear legitimate. Schmidt urged companies to report suspicious applications to authorities.
He advised employers to monitor specific warning signs. These include incorrectly formatted phone numbers and mismatched education histories. Such details often reveal fraudulent identities.
US Investigators Dismantle Illegal Laptop Farm Schemes
In June, the US government uncovered 29 illegal laptop farms nationwide. North Korean IT workers operated the farms remotely. They relied on stolen or forged American identities. The Department of Justice said the scheme helped secure jobs at US companies.
Prosecutors also charged US brokers who supported 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.
