WSJ Tech News Briefing Remote Work Is Convenient for Employees…and North Korean Scammers
45 snips
May 30, 2025 
Bob McMillan, a computer security expert from The Wall Street Journal, joins to discuss the dark side of remote work. He reveals how North Korean scammers exploit flexible jobs to orchestrate elaborate schemes, raking in millions. The concept of 'laptop farms' is explored, showcasing the ethical dilemmas employees face. McMillan unpacks the sophisticated tactics scammers use to deceive corporations, leading to dire legal consequences for those unknowingly involved. It's a revealing look at the intersection of convenience and digital crime.
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What Are Laptop Farms?
- Laptop farms are gig economy jobs where people run laptops for fake workers representing foreign firms.
- North Koreans use these to work remotely, exploiting American remote work set-ups illegally.
Christina Chapman's Laptop Farm
- Christina Chapman received multiple laptops for fake North Korean workers in her apartment.
- Her TikToks showed clusters of whirring laptops labeled with fake worker names and companies.
Desperation Leads to Scam Involvement
- Christina Chapman was a desperate gig worker living in a cold trailer and showering at a gym.
- A LinkedIn offer improved her life but involved illegal, fraudulent activity for North Korean scammers.