Ukrainian man jailed for identity theft that helped North Koreans get jobs at US companies | TechCrunch

TechCrunch

by Zack Whittaker

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A Ukrainian man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in an identity theft scheme that facilitated North Korean workers obtaining fraudulent jobs at U.S. companies. Oleksandr Didenko, a 29-year-old resident of Kyiv, ran a website called Upworksell, which allowed individuals, including North Koreans, to buy or rent stolen identities to gain employment with U.S. firms. The earnings from these jobs were then funneled back to the North Korean regime, aiding its nuclear weapons program in violation of international sanctions. The scheme involved Didenko coordinating with others to set up "laptop farms" in California, Tennessee, and Virginia. These locations housed racks of open laptops, enabling North Koreans to remotely work as if they were physically present in the U.S. This setup not only bypassed sanctions but also allowed North Korean workers to access sensitive company data and engage in extortion tactics, preventing companies from releasing corporate secrets. This case highlights a growing trend of North Korean "IT worker" schemes that pose significant risks to U.S. and Western businesses. These operations often involve impersonation, including mimicking recruiters or venture capitalists to gain unauthorized access to computers and crypto assets. Security researchers have identified these activities as a "triple threat," combining sanctions violations, data theft, and extortion. The conviction of Didenko underscores the broader challenge posed by North Korean cyber activities, which are increasingly used to circumvent global financial restrictions and generate revenue for the regime's prohibited programs. As such, this case serves as a cautionary tale for businesses and individuals navigating the complexities of cybersecurity and international sanctions.

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Originally published on TechCrunch on 2/20/2026