Facing hack attacks
Coast businesses counting the cost
GOLD Coast businesses say they are down tens of thousands of dollars in takings following the hacking of their Facebook accounts.
Fantaseas Houseboats owner Belinda Austin said she discovered her Facebook business account had been hacked and she had been locked out of the page this month.
With no way to access messages, posts or photos, it meant she had to create a new Facebook page with a different name – and no followers.
It was the same story for Ali Saoirse, who runs Ripple Massage and Day Spa, and David and Daniela Kennedy, owners of Witches Falls Cottages at Tamborine Mountain.
It is believed the cyber hack originated through a marketing company the three businesses use.
“Every day it just gets worse, this is our busiest time of year,” Ms Austin said.
“Facebook is a major player with marketing.”
Ms Austin said she had spent five years building up 24,000 followers and thousands of dollars on advertising through Facebook.
Thanks to the hack, she now has just 100 followers.
“Facebook brings in over $100,000 a year worth of bookings,” she said, adding they usually didn’t have any boats to spare over the Christmas break.
“We have a spa boat that goes for $7800 for New Year’s week,” she said. “It would usually be gone (by now), but unfortunately, there’s no marketing.”
Ms Saoirse, of Tamborine Mountain, estimates she has lost thousands in the week since her massage business’s Facebook account was hacked. Her web page views have dropped from up to 180 a day to one as most customers are directed there through social media.
She said because she was locked out of the account, she couldn’t answer queries from potential customers.
“I can’t even begin to estimate how much (money) we’ve lost.”
Ms Saoirse said she had contacted Amex to stop money from being potentially withdrawn from an account used for Facebook advertising.
She also contacted ACORN and the Department of Fair Trading, but neither organisation could help and referred her back to Facebook.
Mr Kennedy said his holiday accommodation business could be out more than $10,000 if his new Facebook page could not be merged with the old one.
“I had a sick feeling in my stomach,” said Mr Kennedy when told of the hacking.
Technology adviser Rob Livingstone said social media accounts could be hacked any number of ways, including through data matching.
Mr Livingstone said users should ensure their account password was strong and not used for different accounts.
The three businesses launched new Facebook accounts after the cyber hack.
FACEBOOK BRINGS IN OVER $100,000 A YEAR WORTH OF BOOKINGS BELINDA AUSTIN