Ukrainian National Sentenced to 5 Years in US Prison for North Korean IT Fraud Scheme

Ukrainian National Sentenced to 5 Years in US Prison for Role in Identity Theft and IT Fraud Scheme

Oleksandr Didenko, 29, of Kyiv, Ukraine, was found guilty of wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft after pleading guilty in a US court in November 2025.

Details of the Scheme

According to court documents, Didenko operated a website, Upworksell.com, which allowed overseas IT workers to purchase or rent stolen identities of US citizens.

Using these stolen identities, the IT workers were able to create accounts on freelance work platforms in California and Pennsylvania, advertise their services, and bid on IT contracts.

Didenko also paid individuals in the US to host laptop farms at residences in Virginia, Tennessee, and California, which enabled the overseas workers to access the US financial system without physically opening bank accounts in the US.

Consequences of the Scheme

The scheme allowed the North Korean workers to transfer employment income to foreign bank accounts, with Didenko’s clients receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars for their work at 40 US companies.

Court documents revealed that Didenko managed 871 proxy identities and supported the operation of at least three laptop farms.

Arrest and Sentencing

The Upworksell.com domain was seized on May 16, 2024, and Didenko was arrested in Poland.

He was extradited to the US on December 31, 2024, and pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2025.

As part of his plea agreement, Didenko agreed to forfeit more than $1.4 million.

In addition to his prison sentence, Didenko was ordered to pay more than $46,000 in restitution and serve 12 months of supervised release.

Investigation and International Cooperation

The investigation into Didenko’s activities was led by the US Department of Justice, with assistance from the US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

About Author

Vaibhav

See author's posts