The Journal. The Everyday American Who Hustled for North Korea
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Jun 3, 2025 
Robert McMillan, a cybersecurity reporter for WSJ, reveals the astonishing tale of Christina Chapman, a TikTok influencer who operated a 'laptop farm' for North Koreans. This operation enabled scammers to exploit U.S. companies, stealing millions through tech impersonation. McMillan discusses the dark intersection of remote work and scamming, emphasizing the challenges of onboarding North Korean workers and the consequences of Chapman's rise to luxury amid fraudulent activities. It's a captivating look at how technology can be manipulated in unexpected ways.
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TikTok Clip Reveals Laptop Farm
- Christina Chapman posted a TikTok video showing breakfast amid numerous laptops operating in her spare room.
- This scene hinted at her involvement in a complex scam involving multiple laptops.
North Korea's Remote Work Scam
- North Koreans hold remote tech jobs in the U.S. under false identities to funnel money back home.
- This scheme can earn North Korea hundreds of millions annually and involves data theft and extortion.
North Koreans in Cybersecurity Firms
- North Korean scammers even infiltrate cybersecurity firms, sometimes hiring multiple employees who are actually spies.
- They creatively bypass identification by hiring locals to act as their physical presence.