Home / Technology / Fake ID, Blackmail: North Korean Hacker's Scheme
Fake ID, Blackmail: North Korean Hacker's Scheme
24 Sep
Summary
- North Korean worker used fake identity and documents.
- Company uncovered true identity, terminated employment.
- Worker threatened to leak sensitive data for payment.
A North Korean IT worker, operating under a fake identity with forged documents and a New Zealand contact point, was recently discovered by a New Zealand company. The business grew suspicious of the contractor's true identity over time, eventually identifying them as being from North Korea.
Following the discovery, the company terminated the worker's remote employment and refused payment. In response, the worker claimed to possess commercially sensitive information and issued a threat to release it if not paid.
This incident underscores broader international warnings about North Korean IT workers generating foreign currency for the nation's weapons programs. New Zealand's cybersecurity center noted that such workers can also engage in malicious cyber operations, often under state-controlled front companies.
Businesses are advised to conduct face-to-face interviews with potential contractors to mitigate these risks. A recent assessment indicated that 23 percent of major cyber attacks on New Zealand last year were state-sponsored, with North Korea identified as a perpetrator.
