A growing security concern in global tech hiring has prompted Amazon to take firm action against suspicious job applications.
The US based technology company said it has blocked more than 1,800 North Koreans from applying for roles, after detecting repeated attempts by individuals linked to Pyongyang to secure remote IT jobs. These efforts are aimed at earning and laundering funds overseas.
In a post shared on LinkedIn, Amazon Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt said North Korean workers “have been attempting to secure remote IT jobs with companies worldwide, particularly in the U.S”. He added that the company recorded nearly a one third increase in such applications over the past year.
Schmidt explained that these applicants often rely on what he described as “laptop farms”, where computers located in the United States are operated remotely from outside the country. He also cautioned that the issue “isn’t Amazon-specific” and “is likely happening at scale across the industry”.
According to Schmidt, common warning signs included incorrectly formatted phone numbers and questionable academic qualifications submitted during the hiring process.
The risks linked to such operations have already led to legal action. In July, an Arizona woman was sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for running a laptop farm that helped North Korean IT workers obtain remote roles at over 300 US companies. Officials said the operation generated more than $17 million in revenue for both her and North Korea.
Separately, South Korea intelligence authorities warned last year that North Korean operatives had used LinkedIn to pose as recruiters. These profiles were used to approach South Koreans working in defence companies to extract sensitive technology information.
The developments highlight growing challenges for global companies as remote work continues to expand across borders.
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