A Ukrainian national, Oleksandr Didenko, was sentenced to five years after admitting he ran Upworksell.com, a service that sold or rented stolen U.S. identities and arranged U.S.-based laptops to mask North Korean IT workers. The scheme placed North Korean programmers at about 40 U.S. companies, accessed at least 871 American identities, and caused significant financial and benefits harm to victims while generating revenue for the Pyongyang regime. #OleksandrDidenko #Upworksell #NorthKorea
Keypoints
- Didenko was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
- He operated Upworksell.com to sell or rent stolen U.S. identities and facilitate fake documentation and passports.
- The scheme placed North Korean IT workers at roughly 40 U.S. companies and had access to identities for at least 871 Americans.
- Seventeen laptops hosted in U.S. residences were seized, with hosts paid roughly $100 per month to conceal remote work.
- Victims faced tax, benefits, and employment eligibility problems, companies incurred security and hiring losses, and Didenko forfeited $1.4 million.
Read More: https://therecord.media/north-korea-laptop-farm-ukraine