U.S. targets alleged North Korean remote-work scheme

The U.S. Justice Department announced arrests and searches targeting an alleged North Korean-linked remote-work scheme, including searches at more than 40 Texas residences and the seizure of about 187 computers and related devices. Two American men were arrested, and an Ohio indictment charges them and others with using stolen or fabricated identities to obtain jobs at U.S. companies. The allegations have not been established in court. The department said the scheme affected more than 70 U.S. companies and generated approximately $3 million in pay for overseas workers. According to the indictment, the workers used false identities to secure remote information technology positions, while U.S.-based facilitators hosted employer-issued laptops and helped make the workers appear to be operating from within the country. The FBI carried out searches and other law enforcement actions at more than 40 Texas residences between September 21 and 25. Authorities seized roughly 187 laptops and other devices believed to have been used in the operation. Officials described the residences as known or suspected laptop farms, where facilitators kept company computers connected for workers abroad.