Japanese Men Suspected of Aiding North Korean IT Workers in Currency Scheme

The Metropolitan Police Department referred two Japanese men to prosecutors for allegedly providing personal and financial information to someone claiming to be North Korean. They suspect this is part of a scheme by North Korean IT workers to acquire foreign currency through false identities. The men sent their information via messaging app in 2020, after knowing the individual for seven years.

Someone then impersonated them to create accounts on a crowdsourcing website, receiving payments for work. The men kept a commission and transferred the rest overseas. This is not an isolated case.

The National Police Agency warned of this scheme, where North Korean IT workers pose as Japanese to get IT jobs. They often work from other countries. The NPA urges platforms to verify identities and alert users to unusual activity. Similar warnings have been issued internationally.

The U.N. suspects these earnings fund North Korea's nuclear program. Experts warn of both foreign currency acquisition and the risk of sensitive information leaks. Police need to alert platforms and companies about screening methods.