Hardworking Aussie mum's business nearly closes after hacker drains bank account
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In the digital age, where our lives are increasingly intertwined with the online world, the story of a hardworking Aussie mum serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that come with it.
Her tale of woe began when she discovered that a Facebook hacker had drained her business's bank account to a mere $1.71, leaving her and her business partner facing the grim prospect of shutting down their livelihood.
The hacker's method was insidious. They gained access to Justine's—a mum and co-owner of the baby clothing brand Pip & Lenny—personal Facebook account, which was linked to her debit card, and used it to funnel funds into advertising their own dubious business on the platform.
‘They've been setting up lots of ads to advertise their own business, and that's how the money was spent,’ Justin shared.
The mother-of-four became aware when ANZ Bank notified her about 10 unusual withdrawals from the account. The transactions were alarmingly uniform, each siphoning $1,250 from the account, totalling a staggering $10,000 loss.
‘Every dollar, gone. We didn't realise that it could happen. It's been devastating, to be honest,’ Justine lamented.
Despite having robust two-factor authentication in place and no signs of suspicious activity, Justine was left baffled and devastated by the breach.
‘I honestly have no idea how it's happened,’ she said.
She also mentioned that she never clicked on suspicious links and was diligent about her cybersecurity practices.
Justine added that if the money isn't recovered, she and her business partner may have to close down their clothing company.
‘This business is our livelihood. We've got four children each, so eight kids between us, and we work on it endlessly day in, day out,’ she said.
‘It's just been a devastating blow to our business.’
‘To be drained of our funds means that we can no longer get stock to our shop, we can't pay our bills, we can't pay our own mortgages because ultimately that's where we get paid from,’ Justine continued.
Although the duo have been ‘in contact’ with individuals at Facebook, the company has not yet confirmed whether it will cancel the ads and provide a refund.
However, an employee at Meta, Facebook's parent company, successfully located the thief.
‘A follower gave us a direct email for someone who works at Facebook and she's been amazing. She said she had found the hacker and their email address,’ Justine shared.
‘So we are really keeping everything crossed that we will get the money back.’
Justine has been exploring ways to enhance their business's security for the future, while also issuing a cautionary message to Australians.
She advised, ‘Just make sure that you've got your two-factor authentication set up and have different passwords for all of your personal and business accounts.'
‘One thing we've learned from this is to have a bank account that's set up just for your Facebook ads so there's only low funds in it compared to your main account.’
ANZ also offered to look into the fraudulent activity.
Justine expressed feeling overwhelmed by the support she received from her customers following the scam, saying, ‘Lots of people have been placing orders and we've been really humbled by it.’
In the wake of Justine's harrowing experience, it's evident that safeguarding our online presence is more crucial than ever.
As she navigates the aftermath of the hacking incident, grappling with the potential closure of her business, her story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital realm.
As Australians increasingly conduct their financial transactions and business operations online, it's imperative to remain vigilant against cyber threats.
This was highlighted by another case involving an Australian businessman who lost $130,000 in a similar scam.
Have you or someone you know had a similar mysterious experience to Justine’s? What are your tips for keeping your finances safe amidst these scams? Let us know your stories and suggestions in the comments below.
Her tale of woe began when she discovered that a Facebook hacker had drained her business's bank account to a mere $1.71, leaving her and her business partner facing the grim prospect of shutting down their livelihood.
The hacker's method was insidious. They gained access to Justine's—a mum and co-owner of the baby clothing brand Pip & Lenny—personal Facebook account, which was linked to her debit card, and used it to funnel funds into advertising their own dubious business on the platform.
‘They've been setting up lots of ads to advertise their own business, and that's how the money was spent,’ Justin shared.
Justine faced significant financial losses after a hacker emptied thousands from her business account. Credits: Instagram / @pipandlenny
The mother-of-four became aware when ANZ Bank notified her about 10 unusual withdrawals from the account. The transactions were alarmingly uniform, each siphoning $1,250 from the account, totalling a staggering $10,000 loss.
‘Every dollar, gone. We didn't realise that it could happen. It's been devastating, to be honest,’ Justine lamented.
Despite having robust two-factor authentication in place and no signs of suspicious activity, Justine was left baffled and devastated by the breach.
‘I honestly have no idea how it's happened,’ she said.
She also mentioned that she never clicked on suspicious links and was diligent about her cybersecurity practices.
Justine added that if the money isn't recovered, she and her business partner may have to close down their clothing company.
‘This business is our livelihood. We've got four children each, so eight kids between us, and we work on it endlessly day in, day out,’ she said.
‘It's just been a devastating blow to our business.’
‘To be drained of our funds means that we can no longer get stock to our shop, we can't pay our bills, we can't pay our own mortgages because ultimately that's where we get paid from,’ Justine continued.
Although the duo have been ‘in contact’ with individuals at Facebook, the company has not yet confirmed whether it will cancel the ads and provide a refund.
However, an employee at Meta, Facebook's parent company, successfully located the thief.
‘A follower gave us a direct email for someone who works at Facebook and she's been amazing. She said she had found the hacker and their email address,’ Justine shared.
‘So we are really keeping everything crossed that we will get the money back.’
Justine has been exploring ways to enhance their business's security for the future, while also issuing a cautionary message to Australians.
She advised, ‘Just make sure that you've got your two-factor authentication set up and have different passwords for all of your personal and business accounts.'
‘One thing we've learned from this is to have a bank account that's set up just for your Facebook ads so there's only low funds in it compared to your main account.’
ANZ also offered to look into the fraudulent activity.
Justine expressed feeling overwhelmed by the support she received from her customers following the scam, saying, ‘Lots of people have been placing orders and we've been really humbled by it.’
In the wake of Justine's harrowing experience, it's evident that safeguarding our online presence is more crucial than ever.
As she navigates the aftermath of the hacking incident, grappling with the potential closure of her business, her story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital realm.
As Australians increasingly conduct their financial transactions and business operations online, it's imperative to remain vigilant against cyber threats.
This was highlighted by another case involving an Australian businessman who lost $130,000 in a similar scam.
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