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

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/fbi-pulls-plug-on-north-korean-facestealer-scheme-that-swiped-400-million-in-crypto/
- Published: 2026-11-13T18:47:14+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T19:34:20+00:00
- Original publisher: The Daily Caller (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://dailycaller.com/2026/11/13/fbi-north-korea-facestealer-cryptocurrency-scheme
- Topics: Asia, Business, Crypto, Politics, World

## Key points

- FBI says North Korean hackers stole over $400 million in 18 months.
- Stolen webcam footage helped them impersonate tech workers in fake meetings.
- Authorities seized online infrastructure and obtained approval to restrain over $1.2 billion.

## Summary

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.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.