A Queensland-based photographer, Doug Bazley, has expressed his devastation after scammers deleted seven years’ worth of images and customer orders from his Facebook business page. The cyberattack was executed using a method that experts are warning is becoming increasingly prevalent. Bazley’s page was compromised after he clicked on a seemingly legitimate link that appeared to be from Meta Platforms, the company behind Facebook. After clicking the link, his page went black, and he lost access to his account, which had been renamed and had its profile picture changed.
Bazley described the loss as feeling like his business had “burned down.” He had spent seven years building his online presence, amassing around 16,000 followers and frequently sharing photos of his travels around Australia. Another victim, Tahlia Rehua, who runs a hairdressing business, experienced a similar cyberattack. She lost both her personal and business pages after clicking on a suspicious link from “Meta Business.” Rehua expressed her frustration over losing 17 years of social media content.
Cyber support expert, Dave Lacey, highlighted the increasing frequency of such attacks, noting that his business is overwhelmed with the volume of cases. As October marks Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Australian Cyber Security Centre is emphasizing the importance of online security. They recommend regularly updating devices, enabling multi-factor authentication, backing up essential files, and using passphrases and password managers.
Bazley hopes his experience serves as a cautionary tale for others, especially those who depend on social media for their businesses. He has lost significant business contacts and approximately $3,000 in prepaid calendar orders. Despite his efforts to report the issue to Meta and Facebook, he has yet to receive a response.
Source: ABC
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