# North Korean hackers used fake video calls in $400m crypto hack, says FBI

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/north-korean-hackers-used-fake-video-calls-in-400m-crypto-hack-says-fbi/
- Published: 2026-11-13T02:48:29+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T09:04:10+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqdj1ellpd70o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Asia, Business, Crypto, Cybersecurity, Technology, World

## Key points

- FBI says North Korean hackers stole over $400m in crypto.
- FaceStealer has reportedly ensnared more than 900 people.
- Fake calls and malware helped hackers target further victims.

## Summary

North Korean state-linked hackers stole more than $400 million in cryptocurrency through a scheme using fake video calls, US authorities say. The FBI says the operation, called FaceStealer, has targeted over 900 people in the past 18 months, highlighting how social engineering can help fund North Korea’s weapons programme.

Hackers reportedly used fake or hijacked social media accounts to invite people, especially cryptocurrency and open-source software workers, to calls on imitation versions of Zoom, Teams or Meet. They played recordings of people the target knew, then prompted them to click a link to fix simulated audio problems; the link installed malware that could access contacts and apps. The hackers also secretly recorded calls to deceive further victims.

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