The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced that the Lazarus Group, affiliated with North Korea, is responsible for the theft of approximately $41 million in virtual currency from the online casino and betting platform Stake.com.
The FBI confirmed that this theft from Stake.com occurred on or around September 4, 2023. Additionally, the Lazarus Group, also known as APT38, a North Korean cyber actor, is operating with advanced cyber attack methods to control the stolen funds.
They Have Stolen Over $200 Million
The same group has recently emerged as responsible for numerous high-profile international virtual currency heists worldwide. In 2023 alone, this group is known to have stolen over $200 million in virtual currency. Notable among these thefts are approximately $60 million in virtual currency stolen from Alphapo and CoinsPaid on or around July 22, 2023, and approximately $100 million in virtual currency stolen from Atomic Wallet on or around June 2, 2023.
Lazarus Group Profits Benefit the Regime
The FBI believes that the Lazarus Group is linked to the North Korean government and has determined that the group engages in illegal activities, including cybercrime and virtual currency theft, to generate income for the regime.
Lastly, FBI officials emphasized their strong commitment to combating such activities and highlighted the need for international cooperation to prevent North Korea from engaging in these types of cybercrimes.
