FBI disrupts North Korean hackers' $400 million crypto theft scheme
The FBI and Justice Department said North Korean state-backed hackers stole more than $400 million in cryptocurrency over the past 18 months by impersonating trusted contacts on video calls, using deepfakes.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
What happened
The FBI and Justice Department said North Korean state-backed hackers stole more than $400 million in cryptocurrency over the past 18 months by impersonating trusted contacts on video calls, using deepfakes. Authorities disrupted the scheme, known as FaceStealer, by seizing servers linked to it.
Why it matters
The FBI said the hacking group targets cryptocurrency executives, Web3 businesses and people who develop and maintain open-source software. At least 900 people have been impersonated as victims, according to the agency.
Timeline
- Nov 12, 4:40 PM ET: The FBI said North Korean state-backed hackers stole more than $400 million in cryptocurrency over 18 months using recorded video images and deepfakes.
- Nov 13, 12:55 AM ET: The FBI's Los Angeles Field Office warned of the FaceStealer scheme, which has caused more than $400 million in thefts and at least 900 impersonation victims.
Coverage
- FBI disrupts crypto theft scheme by North Korean hacking group; billions stolen so far (Los Angeles Times)
- FBI Seizes Over 900 Webcam Videos Used in North Korean Cryptocurrency Scams (financefeeds.com)
- U.S. disrupts North Korean fake video scheme tied to $400 million theft (upi.com)
- FBI's LA Field Office warns of ‘FaceStealer' cryptocurrency theft scheme (nbclosangeles.com)
- Hackers From Kim Jong Un’s North Korea Posed as Trusted Contacts on Video Calls to Steal $400 Million in… (benzinga.com)
- US disrupts North Korea's $400 million crypto scam, FBI says (DW)
- FBI says US has seized $2.1b of cryptocurrency stolen from Binance (AP)
- FBI: North Korean hackers have stolen $400 million in crypto over last 18 months (The Hill)
- U.S. Justice Department steps up cryptocurrency seizure actions against North Korea cyber schemes (tradersunion.com)
- Feds announce seizure of $1.2 billion from Binance theft; also takedown of ‘FaceStealer’ tools (therecord.media)
- North Korean hackers steal more than $400 million using video images, FBI says (Redazione)
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