The recent discovery of a scheme involving foreigners doing IT work in the United States has been uncovered by federal authorities, with Jefferson City, Tennessee, being identified as a location for one of the laptop farms involved in the operation. The fraud scheme targeted over 300 U.S. companies using U.S. payment platforms, online job sites, and proxy computers in the U.S. Two individuals have been arrested, with search warrants executed in multiple jurisdictions.
A Ukrainian man, Oleksandr Didenko, was reported to have created hundreds of accounts on remote working platforms with stolen identity information to pose as U.S.-based IT workers. He was arrested by Polish authorities following a request from the United States for his extradition.
The investigation also revealed connections to a North Korean group engaged in IT work to fund weapons programs and evade international sanctions. The Justice Department emphasized the importance of American companies and government agencies being cautious about hiring remote IT workers to prevent involvement in criminal schemes like this one.
In a related development, Christina Marie Chapman of Arizona was charged for her participation in a similar scheme and arrested. The overseas IT workers using Didenko’s services were collaborating with Chapman as well. Overall, the investigation highlighted the risks of employing remote IT workers and the potential implications for national security when engaging in such fraudulent activities.
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