Remote work is a great opportunity for many people. But it’s also opened the door to serious risks.
One of them involves fake IT workers from North Korea who are now targeting companies in Europe, writes Hotnews.
North Korea has set up a system where agents pretend to be freelance tech workers. They apply for remote jobs, get hired, and then send the money they earn back to their government.
Some of these fake workers go even further. They install harmful software on company computers. Others steal files and demand money to return them.
In the best cases, these workers just do poor-quality work or nothing at all. They collect their paycheck and move on to another employer.
They often apply with fake resumes. During interviews, they try to hide their accent and appearance.
Some claim their webcam is broken to avoid being seen. Others use AI tools to fake their voice or create a photo.
Sometimes they slip up. One common mistake is asking for a work laptop to be shipped to a strange address.
This could mean they have a local partner helping them stay connected. These middlemen also help transfer the money back to North Korea.
The problem is growing. Google’s security team said this week that North Korean workers are now very active in Europe.
They’ve applied for jobs in countries like Germany and Portugal. Investigators have even found fake degrees and identities claiming to be from Serbia and Slovakia.
These workers use websites like Upwork, Telegram, and Freelancer. Some ask to be paid in cryptocurrency or through money transfer services.
Google has also found evidence of people in the UK and US helping with the scams.
They now focus on companies that let workers use their own laptops. That way, companies don’t send a device or track their activity.
Some fake workers, after being fired, have threatened to leak private company data. This shows how serious the problem is becoming.
The FBI has issued warnings. Signs include avoiding video calls, changing how they want to be paid, or having an empty online profile.
