Click and a miss: Aussie business owner’s email scam nightmare rolls into cybersecurity alert

In today's digital age, where convenience and connectivity are at the forefront of our daily lives, the threat of cybercrime looms larger than ever.

Business owners, in particular, need to be vigilant as they are prime targets for sophisticated scams that can lead to devastating financial losses and breaches of personal information.

The story of this Aussie business owner serves as a stark reminder of the perils lurking in our inboxes.


Business owner and 10-pin bowling professional George Frilingos cautioned others about email scams after hackers stole his details, costing him hundreds of dollars and access to his social media accounts, and then listed the information on the dark web.

Despite being vigilant about email links and potential scams, he fell victim to an email scam that seemed innocuous at first glance.

Mr Frilingos had recently made an overseas purchase and was expecting an email receipt when he received the scam email.


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Aussie business owner George Frilingos was targeted by an email scam that compromised both his personal and business accounts. Credit: Shutterstock


‘I clicked a receipt which I believed was going to show me the Australian amount of what I’d purchased,’ he recalled.

‘It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I didn’t think anything of it.’


Simply opening the attachment gave overseas hackers access to his account, and the situation quickly escalated from there.

‘It happened very quickly,’ Mr Frilingos narrated.

‘Within 24 hours, I’d lost access to my Gmail, Facebook, Instagram.’

He even discovered a $360 charge on his credit card. The hackers had not only infiltrated his personal accounts but also his business pages, effectively locking him out of his digital life.

‘Within 24 hours, I’d lost everything,’ he lamented.


Mr Frilingos enlisted the help of a private cybersecurity firm and successfully regained control of his accounts.

After some negotiation with his bank, he also managed to recover the $360.

‘I was very lucky I got onto it as quickly as I did,’ he shared.

‘I would have stood to lose a lot more.’

Mr Frilingos then urged others to stay informed and follow the advice of cybersecurity experts.

‘As simple as clicking on an attachment on an email, you can lose everything really quickly,’ he cautioned.

‘I just can’t believe it actually happened to me.’


This incident underscores the importance of cybersecurity awareness and the need for robust protective measures.

Nick Guy, a SafetyNet Cyber Security expert, reported receiving over 200 inquiries a week from Australians who have fallen prey to hackers.

His advice is clear and urgent: enable two-factor authentication, stay vigilant against phishing emails and texts, and practice strong password management.

‘We see over and over again the client uses one password for everything,’ he noted.

The dark web is a murky underworld where stolen details can circulate, and once someone's identity is compromised, it can take up to 18 months to clear their name.

The repercussions of identity theft are long-lasting and can tarnish not just your financial health but also your reputation.


As cyber threats continue to escalate, the need for vigilance has never been greater.

Following a warning from a Brisbane business owner who fell victim to an email scam and had his details compromised, Australians are now turning to firms like SafetyNet Cyber Security to recover hacked social media accounts, often paying substantial fees for assistance.

These incidents highlight just how vulnerable our online presence can be.
Key Takeaways
  • Aussie business owner George Frilingos fell victim to an email scam that compromised his personal and business accounts.
  • By clicking on a fraudulent attachment, hackers gained access to his accounts and made unauthorised charges on his credit card.
  • With the help of a private cybersecurity business, Frilingos was able to regain control of his accounts and recover the money from the bank.
  • Cybersecurity expert Nick Guy emphasised the importance of two-factor authentication, awareness of phishing attempts, and strong password management to prevent identity theft and hacking.
Have you or someone you know been affected by a similar scam? How did you handle it, and what lessons did you learn? We invite you to share your experiences and tips on cybersecurity in the comments below.
 
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Never had a problem reporting spam. Just click the spam button and it is reported
Never had to answer any questions at all. As I said if I do answer a call, I hang up pretty well straight away, then I get questioned by Telstra asking if the call was, medical, business,personal.or scam. I usually answer spam and the number is then blocked
 
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Reactions: Ezzy
I am due to go into hospital Tues for an op, staying overnight & have been receiving a call where the caller didn't leave a message. Late Friday thinking l would phone the #, hear who has been calling & hang up, not wanting this. Turned out the calls were from the hospital admissions. Surely a call as important as this the caller should have left a message? The lady was also very hard to understand. Will certainly put this on the 'How did we do form' from the hospital when it comes.
 
Luckily the security system on my computer seems to work pretty well. If I believe an email is one I have been waiting for comes into my box and it is really a scam letter, my security system does not allow me to open the connection but warns me that it is a scam. It has saved me so many times.
 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM COMMONWEALTH BANK!
IS BACKING A PILOT PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY AP GATE AI THAT USES A BOT TO CHASE DOWN SCAMMERS, RETRIEVING THEIR BANK DETAILS AND OTHER IDENTIFABLE INFORMATION. I'm collecting phone numbers that have rang me from afar field as UK and NZ but mostly in au, I've got 67 phone numbers all mobile numbers.
I have received scam calls from middle east countries as well!
 
Trace these scammers and lock them up. If you are too bone idle and lazy to go out and get a job and earn your money honestly if you would rather steal from others, then you deserve to go to jail.
 
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Reactions: BeautifulMousey

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