Amazon is reportedly being deluged with North Korean job applicants eager to break inside its walls

Date:
Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:05:00 +0000

Description:
Amazon detections are up 27%, with Microsoft also worried about North Korean remote job applications.

FULL STORY

Amazon has blocked over 1,800 suspected North Korean applications from
joining the company since April 2024, it has revealed.

"Their objective is typically straightforward: get hired, get paid, and
funnel wages back to fund the regime's weapons programs," company Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt wrote in a LinkedIn post .

The company is using artificial intelligence and human verification to stamp out "anomalies" and "geographic inconsistencies" to rule out such
applications, with DPRK-affiliated application detections up 27% this year.

North Korean nationals are trying to get jobs at Big Tech

The scams involve real developers using fake or stolen identities to apply
for remote jobs at US and European companies, and emerging AI tools are
proving a big hit in strengthening their cases. AI and fake social media profiles are being used to strengthen applications, while deepfakes are even being used to (try to) pass video interviews.

However, even though Amazon has been able to leverage AI to identify even
more fake applications, detection is getting harder with scammers hijacking real engineers' unused LinkedIn accounts via stolen credentials.

While tech may be helping Amazon's security team identify fake applications, some signs are still clear to the human eye. For example, Schmidt says the
team often sees applicants citing an education from a university that doesn't offer the claimed course. Some formatting details, like adding the international '+' symbol to phone numbers, also stand out.

The CSO urges victims of false, DPRK applications to report them to the FBI
and local law enforcement.

Amazon isn't the only company facing these threats. Just six months ago, Microsoft shared similar findings, noting that North Korean remote IT workers are using AI to enhance photos, swap faces on stolen IDs, finetune their job applications and even use voice-changing software.

According to Microsoft, more than 300 US companies, including Fortune 500 firms, unknowing hired such workers between 2020 and 2022.

Redmond's report suggests monitoring odd behavior, like the use of foreign
IPs and VPNs, never appearing on camera in video calls and working strange hours.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/amazon-is-being-reportedly-deluged-with -fake-north-korean-job-applicants

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Mike Powell wrote to All <=-

Amazon is reportedly being deluged with North Korean job applicants
eager to break inside its walls

I've been hiring for a couple of positions and I'm surprised at the
resumes that get through the recruiters, and had a couple of shocking
video interviews.

When I interview someone, I like to focus on stories. Tell me about a
time that you did something that changed the way a company worked?
Describe an environment where you felt like you did your best?

A couple of the interviewers were obviously looking down at something
on the screen, and essentially reading off a list of tools,
applications and services. When asked where they used them, or what
they liked about xyz, I'd get a mumble and a general list of features.

No, thanks.

I wonder what hiring manager would say, "That guy has 'WINNER' written
all over him!"



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A couple of the interviewers were obviously looking down at something
on the screen, and essentially reading off a list of tools,
applications and services. When asked where they used them, or what
they liked about xyz, I'd get a mumble and a general list of features.

No, thanks.

I wonder what hiring manager would say, "That guy has 'WINNER' written
all over him!"

Probably the kind that doesn't actually know what they are doing,
either. :D

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * This taglx^$ closed for repairs.
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I wonder what hiring manager would say, "That guy has 'WINNER' written

>> all over him!"

Probably the kind that doesn't actually know what they are doing,

>either. :D

One of my earliest real jobs while I was still in school was at a grocery
store and I'd ridden in on my motorcycle to apply for the job.

The manager looked over my application (no resume to speak of) and
said, I see that you ride a motorcycle.. What happens when it rains?

I replied, I get wet.. I then added that I would have a car to use
by the time winter got here so I planned to keep the job.

Years later he told me that my comment about getting wet was what
got me the job. There were apparently a lot of applicants for
the opening who lived a lot closer to the store than where I
was (16 miles away) but he figured I sounded like the type of
person who would suffer almost anything to make it into work,
and he wasn't wrong.. Flooded roads, freezing rain, driving snow,
I always made it in.. B)

---
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I wonder what hiring manager would say, "That guy has 'WINNER' written

>> all over him!"

Probably the kind that doesn't actually know what they are doing,

>either. :D

Years later he told me that my comment about getting wet was what
got me the job. There were apparently a lot of applicants for
the opening who lived a lot closer to the store than where I
was (16 miles away) but he figured I sounded like the type of
person who would suffer almost anything to make it into work,
and he wasn't wrong.. Flooded roads, freezing rain, driving snow,
I always made it in.. B)

Sounds like maybe that manager wasn't in the "doesn't know what they are
doing" category. Good on you both. ;)

Mike


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Sounds like maybe that manager wasn't in the "doesn't know what they are

>doing" category. Good on you both. ;)

He was the same one that got me Merrit raises against Union rules
when I did turn out to be a better worker than average.

Funny (?) story.. at one point they were forced to hire and promote
women as quickly as possible to meet some percentage requirement and
he introduced me to this lady who was to be my boss, and it was my
job to train her how to be my boss..

I think at some point she got the impression that I wasn't too
impressed with her and she said to me, "You don't like me, do you?"

Keeping in mind that I was 17 years old and spent my time hanging
around custom motorcycle shops with club bikers doing up my bike,
I said, "I like you fine Donna.." And she said, "Come on, you can
tell me the truth. I won't mention it to anyone.."

So I said, "I like you fine.. I just figure a woman's place is in
the home commuting between the kitchen and the bedroom.."

10 minutes later I get called to the manager's office.
As I was entering she was leaving and gave me a dirty look..

The manager, sounding angry says, Come in Rob..

He stares at me for a minute, then burst out laughing and says,
"You didn't really say that to her, did you?"
I laughed and said, "Yeah, I know I shouldn't have but she asked."

He says, "Okay, just go easy on her. She won't be here long."

I said, "Don't worry, I'll be super nice from now on.." and as
I was leaving the office it seems she had hung back to eaves drop
through the door and she didn't look at all happy with how my
'punishment'was handled.

Ironically, a couple of years later she was made a store
manager elswhere, and she contacted the head office and said
she wanted me to come and work in her store..

Somehow I didn't think that would be a good idea so I turned
down what would have been a promotion and raise to work for her.

I had a feeling my life there might not be entirely pleasant.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * So I took two aspirins, and my wife disappeared !?!
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Ironically, a couple of years later she was made a store
manager elswhere, and she contacted the head office and said
she wanted me to come and work in her store..

Somehow I didn't think that would be a good idea so I turned
down what would have been a promotion and raise to work for her.

I had a feeling my life there might not be entirely pleasant.. B)

It is possible that her opinion of you had improved after watching you
work. That said, you probably made a wise choice. ;)

Mike


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On Tue 30-Dec-2025 8:40a, Rob Mccart@1:2320/105.0 said to Mike Powell:

impressed with her and she said to me, "You don't like me, do you?"

So I said, "I like you fine.. I just figure a woman's place is in
the home commuting between the kitchen and the bedroom.."

Considering, that the original question could these day's (Especially if the gender roles were reversed..). Ask an innapropriate question get an innapropriate answer.

I would have just said, "I am here to work, not like or dislike anyone."
Which is why I try to stay away from work social functions. Less of a surface area for my mouth to get me in trouble.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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Ironically, a couple of years later she was made a store

>> manager elswhere, and she contacted the head office and said
>> she wanted me to come and work in her store..

I had a feeling my life there might not be entirely pleasant.. B)

It is possible that her opinion of you had improved after watching you

>work. That said, you probably made a wise choice. ;)

Actually I either talked to her at the time or my manager relayed
info and she had insisted that she just wanted me because I had
a reputation as being good at my job, and we did work together
for several months after my 'insulting comments' to her.. but I
wasn't too sure how things would go there.

It would also involve driving a lot further to her store and
I was already driving 16 miles to where I was working..

---
* SLMR Rob * Wear rubbers when you go out or you'll catch your death
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