Microsoft suspends approximately 3,000 Outlook and Hotmail accounts created by North Korean IT workers

Odaily Planet Daily – Microsoft has announced that it has eliminated thousands of accounts created by North Korean IT workers, as part of its efforts to combat global fraud schemes. In recent years, these IT workers have infiltrated hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, and law enforcement agencies have collaborated with cybersecurity experts to help identify and neutralize this threat. Microsoft has suspended approximately 3,000 known Outlook and Hotmail accounts created by these workers, as part of its comprehensive crackdown on North Korean IT worker scams. (Fortune)
Previously, crypto investigator ZachXBT posted on X that his investigation found that since January 1, 2025, over $16.58 million in payments have flowed to North Korean IT personnel hired as developers by various projects and companies, averaging $2.76 million per month. Based on monthly compensation of $3,000–$8,000 per person, this suggests that at least 345 to 920 positions have been infiltrated.