US Department of Justice Seizes Ransom Payments Made to North Korean Hackers
The U.S Deputy Attorney General, Lisa Monaco, said in a speech that the U.S Department of Justice(DOJ) has seized about $500,000 in ransom payments from a North Korean hacking group.
According to Monaco, the North Korean hackers targeted medical providers in Kansas and Colorado last year, encrypting systems that operated key equipment. An unnamed medical provider reported the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) before taking action. The Kansas complaint helped the FBI identify the new ransomware the North Korean hackers used.
In addition, Monaco said the FBI recovered ransom payments and cryptocurrencies from money launderers based in China which the North Korean hackers hired. She urged other organizations to report similar incidents to the FBI.
Furthermore, She said the investments that the FBI, Secret Service, and Treasury Department made in tracking crypto payments to cybercriminal groups were very helpful in the exercise. In the first quarter, the FBI assembled a task force of cryptocurrency experts that focuses on blockchain analysis and digital money seizures.
In April 2022, the Founder of DeFiance Capital, Arthur Cheong, warned that North Korea was intensifying its efforts on hacking crypto organizations. He added that he is a victim of a North Korean cyberattack and advised other crypto firms to be extremely careful.
Previously in March, Ronin Network fell victim to North Korean hackers. The attack is the biggest crypto heist as Axie Infinity gaming company, Sky Mavis lost about $625 million. The United States Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) attributed the stolen funds to North Korean government-backed hackers.
