Amazon blocks 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents

A senior Amazon executive revealed that the company has blocked more than 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents. These individuals allegedly applied for remote IT jobs using stolen or fake identities.

According to Amazon’s chief security officer Stephen Schmidt, the goal of these applicants was to get hired, earn salaries, and send the money back to North Korea to help fund weapons programs. He warned that this problem is likely widespread across the US technology industry.

Amazon reported a nearly one-third increase in suspected North Korean job applications over the past year. Many of these applicants worked with so-called “laptop farms,” where computers located in the US are operated remotely from overseas.

To stop the fraud, Amazon used artificial intelligence tools and human verification to screen applications. However, Schmidt said the tactics have become more advanced, including hijacking inactive LinkedIn accounts to appear legitimate.

US authorities have also taken action. The Department of Justice uncovered dozens of illegal laptop farms and prosecuted several people involved. One woman in Arizona was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for helping North Korean workers earn over $17 million through fraudulent job schemes.

 

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e0kw80wwzo

Comprehension

How many job applications did Amazon block from suspected North Korean agents?
What type of jobs were the operatives applying for?
What was the main goal of the North Korean operatives?
What tools did Amazon use to detect fraudulent applications?
What punishment did the woman in Arizona receive for running a laptop farm?

Discussion

Why do you think remote work makes this kind of fraud easier?
How can companies better protect themselves from fake job applicants?
Should social media platforms like LinkedIn do more to prevent identity misuse?
What risks do national security threats pose to global companies?
Do you think employers should involve governments when they detect cyber fraud? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

Suspected – believed to be true without full proof.
Operatives – people working secretly for an organization or government.
Fraudulent – involving deception or dishonesty.
Verification – the process of checking if something is true or accurate.
Illicit – illegal or not allowed by law.