North Korean hackers use social engineering tactics to steal crypto, FBI alerts

The FBI has issued a new alert about sophisticated scams orchestrated by North Korean hackers aimed at cryptocurrency firms and their employees.

According to the September 3 notice, these cybercriminals are using advanced social engineering tactics to steal digital assets.

The warning highlights that scammers are posing as potential employers or investors to lure individuals into downloading malicious software.

These schemes often involve fake job offers or investment opportunities, and the scammers may impersonate well-known figures in the tech industry to build trust with their targets.

Once rapport is established, victims are prompted to download files that contain malware.

The FBI notes that these attackers are highly skilled, communicating in fluent English and displaying a deep understanding of the cryptocurrency sector.

Since 2017, North Korean hackers have reportedly stolen around $3 billion in digital assets through such elaborate schemes.

This alert follows previous warnings about cryptocurrency scams, including instances where fraudsters have impersonated employees from crypto exchanges and offered fake recovery services.