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FBI identifies North Korean Lazarus Group behind $41 million heist from Stake.com

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FBI identifies North Korean Lazarus Group behind $41 million heist from Stake.comFBI identifies North Korean Lazarus Group behind $41 million heist from Stake.com

In this post:

  • The FBI has identified the North Korean hacker group, Lazarus Group, as responsible for the $41 million theft from the world’s largest crypto casino, Stake.com, on September 4, 2023.
  • The Lazarus Group, also known as APT38, has been involved in a series of high-profile cryptocurrency thefts in 2023, totaling over $200 million, including significant heists from Alphapo, CoinsPaid, and Atomic Wallet.
  • In response to the ongoing cybercrimes, the FBI has issued a cybersecurity advisory, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures and international cooperation to combat such illicit activities.

In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency community, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified the Lazarus Group, a notorious North Korean hacker collective, as the perpetrators behind the recent $41 million theft from Stake.com

The online crypto casino, which had already been grappling with a security breach involving suspicious outflows, found itself at the center of a more significant crisis on September 4, 2023. According to the FBI, the Lazarus Group, also known as APT38, orchestrated the heist, moving the stolen funds across multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Polygon.

A year of unprecedented cybercrime: Lazarus Group’s trail of theft

The Stake.com incident is not an isolated event but part of a series of cryptocurrency heists executed by the Lazarus Group in 2023. The group has been responsible for pilfering over $200 million in various cryptocurrency thefts this year alone. 

Notable among these are the thefts of approximately $60 million from Alphapo and CoinsPaid on July 22, followed by another haul of around $100 million from Atomic Wallet on June 2. The FBI’s investigation has unveiled a web of illicit activities, highlighting the urgency for enhanced cybersecurity measures and international cooperation to combat such cybercrimes.

The aftermath: Sanctions and cybersecurity advisories

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had already imposed sanctions on the Lazarus Group in 2019. However, this has not deterred the group from continuing its illicit activities. The FBI has also issued a cybersecurity advisory urging caution, particularly for private sector entities that might be vulnerable to transactions directly with or derived from the addresses associated with the stolen funds.

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Founded in 2017, Stake.com rapidly became the largest online crypto casino, focusing primarily on sports betting and casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slots. The platform distinguishes itself by exclusively using cryptocurrencies for transactions, supporting 18 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Ripple. The heist marks another chapter in the ongoing saga of cybercrime, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity infrastructures.

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Disclaimer. The information provided is not trading advice. Cryptopolitan.com holds no liability for any investments made based on the information provided on this page. We strongly recommend independent research and/or consultation with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.

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