Summary
Amazon blocked over 1,800 North Korean job applications because they were linked to schemes that fund weapons programs. The company used artificial intelligence and staff verification to identify and prevent these fraudulent applications. U.S. and South Korean authorities have been alerting companies to North Korean online scams.
Key Facts
- Amazon stopped more than 1,800 North Korean job applications using false identities.
- North Korean job seekers aimed to fund weapons programs with their earnings.
- The company saw a nearly 33% rise in these applications in the past year.
- North Korean operatives use "laptop farms" — U.S.-based computers run from abroad.
- Amazon employed artificial intelligence and manual checks to screen applications.
- Fraudsters used stolen LinkedIn accounts to seem genuine to potential employers.
- The U.S. government found 29 illegal "laptop farms" within the country.
- An Arizona woman was sentenced for aiding North Korean IT workers through these scams, earning more than $17 million.
