This is a shocker you’re not ready for!
A U.S.-based TikTok influencer has been sentenced to prison for helping North Korean operatives land jobs at over 300 American companies including targets in tech, aerospace, and possibly crypto.
Christina Marie Chapman, 50, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for running a complex operation that allowed North Korean IT workers to pose as U.S. employees. Authorities say her actions helped the regime funnel over $17 million out of the U.S., while putting sensitive industries at risk.
A Remote Job Scam With Global Stakes
Chapman ran what investigators described as a “laptop farm” from her home in Arizona. She used stolen or borrowed identities to help North Korean workers apply for remote jobs.
Once hired, the laptops sent by U.S. companies were connected to operatives based near North Korea, making it look like the work was being done from within the U.S.
She even shipped at least 49 devices overseas, including to a city near the China-North Korea border. A search of her home in 2023 uncovered over 90 laptops, many tagged with fake or stolen identities.
Her setup was helping them access corporate systems, receive payments through U.S. banks, and send that money abroad under false names.
Over 300 Companies Fooled – Crypto Not Spared!
According to the Department of Justice, at least 68 stolen identities were used to trick 309 U.S. companies and two international firms into hiring North Korean workers. Some of these job applications even targeted U.S. government agencies, though those attempts reportedly failed.
While specific crypto companies weren’t named, the industry is firmly in the line of fire.
North Korea has a long track record of using fake remote jobs to embed workers into Western firms, especially crypto startups.
In fact, a report by Chainalysis shows DPRK-linked hackers stole $1.34 billion in cryptocurrency in 2024 alone.
Crypto Hiring Needs a Reality Check
The crypto space often has fewer checks in place for remote roles. That’s exactly what makes it attractive to North Korean operatives, according to U.S. intelligence reports.
Despite increased efforts by law enforcement, officials believe hundreds of DPRK-linked IT workers are still active inside global firms including in crypto.
