The rapid increase of several crypto-targeted vices like scams and hacks continues to worry many. They believe that the situation surrounding these events will negatively impact the growth of the booming Blockchain space. The critical nature of these events’ frequent occurrence in the crypto space has now forced several law enforcement agencies of many countries to get involved as a foray against these criminal activities. The U.S. DOJ is the latest law enforcement body to get involved as it has now charged three North Koreans, believed to be military officers, for being the brains behind a crypto cyber-attack that lead to losses.
The North Korean scammers extorted about $1.3 billion illegally
The case against Park Jin Hyok, Jon Chang Hyok, and Kim II are one that the U.S. DOJ is not taking lightly, as the trio’s criminal activities have devastatingly affected many. The three North Koreans, believed to be Military Intelligent Officers in North Korea, have set up several fake cryptocurrency platforms and launched fake unregistered crypto apps to scam individuals up to the tune of $1.3 billion.
Many of the trio’s victims included many financial firms and several FinTech companies across Asia and America. If convicted, the North Korean military officer who had perpetrated these horrendous acts will face about 30 years’ imprisonment. There is another case of a certain American, Ghaleb Alaumary, who is also an accomplice of the North Korean scammers and is currently being charged by the U.S. DOJ to help them launder money out of Korea.
Alaumary is also set to face about 20years in prison, according to the U.S. DOJ, who through one of its legal aides, John C. Demers, had expressed its disappointment in the involvement of military personnel, who swore to protect lives, being involved in scam activities hurting the lives of many.
The recent charges precede many involving US DOJ and North Korean Military
In the U.S. DOJ books, this is not the first time the North Korean military is involving itself with cyber-crime-related activities. The Asian country’s military has been previously brought under the book by the U.S. DOJ. In a report in 2018, the FBI and U.S. DOJ charged the North Korean military for their involvement in a 2014 cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment and AMC theaters, after they both co-released a comedy movie that featured the death of their military leader Kim Jong-un.
The U.S. DOJ believed that the North Korean military attacked the entertainment company to respond to their displeasure with the movie’s content. The U.S. DOJ had dug up another crypto North Korean-related activity involving two scammers who created WannaCry 2.0 ransomware. This cyber-attack ransomware held more than 300,000 companies in 2017, demanding Bitcoin as Ransom.
According to John C. Demers, the U.S. DOJ is currently not pleased with North Koreans’ high involvement in targeted cyber-crime activities against many, including its citizens and others, and it promises to ensure that justice is served, according to John C. Demers.