The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced that North Korean state-backed hackers have stolen approximately $400 million worth of cryptocurrency over the past 18 months by using fake video calls and secretly capturing users’ images.
Reuters reported on Friday, 22 Aqrab, citing the FBI, that the attacks were carried out through an online fraud scheme known as “FaceStealer”. The method involves hackers creating fake versions of video-conferencing applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
According to the FBI, the attackers gain access to the social media accounts and contact information of individuals familiar with their intended victims. They then send fake video meeting invitations in the names of those individuals. During the calls, the hackers secretly capture images of participants without their knowledge.
The agency added that it had also identified and seized more than 900 videos secretly recorded using victims’ webcams.
The FBI further stated that the hackers use artificial intelligence to create fake videos featuring well-known and influential figures in the cryptocurrency and blockchain technology sectors. They exploit these individuals’ identities to facilitate their attacks and deceive users.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
