FBI Pulls Plug On North Korean ‘FaceStealer’ Scheme That Swiped $400 Million In Crypto

The FBI says it disrupted a North Korean scheme that used stolen webcam footage and, increasingly, AI deepfakes to impersonate technology workers and steal cryptocurrency. The operation matters because the proceeds are said to help fund North Korea’s government and weapons programme.

Over 18 months, the hackers reportedly stole more than $400 million and recorded over 900 tech workers. They posed as trusted industry contacts in fake video meetings, then persuaded targets to download malware disguised as an audio update. The Justice Department says it seized the scheme’s online infrastructure and videos; authorities and private companies have frozen more than $2.7 billion in assets, with court approval to seize or restrain over $1.2 billion.