Microsoft suspends North Korean accounts in fraud scheme

Microsoft suspended 3,000 Outlook and Hotmail accounts tied to North Korean IT workers involved in a global fraud scheme, disrupting operations targeting Fortune 500 companies. The "Jasper Sleet" scheme saw North Korean workers using fake identities to secure remote tech jobs, generating millions annually for the country's nuclear program. The DOJ seized laptops and financial accounts, shutting down "laptop farms" across the US. The workers employed AI to evade detection, with the scheme estimated to generate up to $600 million annually. Microsoft is using machine learning to identify suspicious account activity, anticipating more sophisticated AI-driven deception in the future.