Hackers Need to Get a Real Job

Hacking into a computer system is like breaking into a private residence — it is a violation of privacy. 

Hackers steal information, change information, and access confidential information. I’ve had both my business and personal debit card information stolen, once at a gas pump and also at the checkout line inside a convenience store. That was the most frustrating and time-consuming ordeal I had experienced up until our EverythingBrevard business Facebook page got hacked in mid-January and fraudulent charges were attempted with the credit card that I had on file. Thank goodness, my credit card company declined the charges — which was how I knew something was wrong.  

Once I became aware that the Facebook page was compromised, panic set in. To recover my account, I began to search for clues on how someone may have gained access. To this day, I’m not sure what happened or how it happened. I’ve submitted help requests, text chatted with Meta, (or so I thought it was Meta) called an 800 number on Google where I spoke to an actual person but that call led to a $100 Venmo scam. 

I’m not going to lie, after 14 years in business, this has made me want to quit — everything. I feel dumb, violated, and completely vulnerable. It’s hard to know who to trust. So, if anyone has experienced this or knows a true path to recover one’s business account through Meta, please let me know!

Once I recognized the breach for what it was, I got busy making sure everything I had was locked down tight. Besides the $100 and countless hours during sleepless nights, resetting passwords and seeking expert advice, I still live in fear that I may have missed something or simply not done enough. I’m terrified to “click” anything.  

To make matters worse, last week I received a phone call from someone posing as a Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy inquiring about me missing a federal jury duty summons. I figured it was a hoax but not until he told my husband that he could take me down to the sheriff’s department where they would book me, fingerprint me, and strip search me, or we could handle this over the phone. Unbelievable!

I immediately called the Clerk of Court to inquire about this and was informed they had been trying to catch these guys. I gave a statement to an actual detective and shared on my personal account a social media post that the Clerk’s office had on its Facebook page regarding this scam, as well as a few others that are currently circulating in the area.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned thus far.  

1. I get hundreds of emails per day. This is a prime way for someone to gain access to your data.  Hackers send out emails that look legitimate but aren’t. In a rush to keep things moving forward, we don’t pay close enough attention to the details like domain addresses or the fine print at the bottom of an email where it shows the actual email address that something was sent from.
2. Having great IT support is a must. My team has been fantastic educating me and making sure that my data remains safe. The more I learn, the more empowered I feel.
3. Set up notifications with your bank and credit card companies. Using credit cards for recurring transactions or online purchases is better than using a debit card. Reversing transactions is much easier than dealing with the bank.
4. Money in the bank is insured. But only if it is taken. If you agree to send to a hacker or scammer, once it leaves the bank, it is gone forever. When sharing my story with the bank, I was informed that there are a lot of different scams happening right now and the numbers are HUGE. One older woman sent $90,000 to someone in a foreign country to repay an apparent debt that her recently deceased husband owed. The bank suggested she not send the money because it sounded suspicious, but she insisted. Another woman sent $30,000 to someone who told her she was part of an internet pornography situation and this was the only way to clear it up.  
5. Never screen share unless you’re 1,000% sure of who you are allowing in. When something happens, don’t fear reaching out to authorities or asking others for help. I know it feels terrible, but we can only stop the madness if we continue to report the violations.  
6. Banks and credit card companies will never call you and ask you for logins or passwords. They have strict policies on how they verify who you are. When in doubt, hang up and drive to the bank or call the credit card company by using the number on the back of your card or statement.

I share this all with you because I know I’m not the only one this has happened to. We need to shout it from the rooftops and stand together so that we can protect ourselves from this madness.  

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Tracy@everythingbrevard.com
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Meet Our Publisher/CEO

Tracy Stroderd embodies the ultimate success story as an entrepreneur who brings consumers and businesses together. She is a speaker, business strategist and consultant who uses her unique combination of real-world entrepreneurial experience and formal business education to champion small-business success. Her love for working with entrepreneurs and making an impact in her community stems from growing up in a small town where she was born into the world of entrepreneurship.

Tracy earned a master of arts in administration from Barry University, where she has taught services marketing. She is a trained facilitator and mentor for the IGNITE 360 Mentoring Program at weVENTURE Women’s Business Center powered by Florida Institute of Technology. She has taught in the entrepreneurship program at Eastern Florida State College. Tracy has served on the executive committee/board of directors at the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce. She has served on this board since 2017 and was the chairwoman from 2018-2020.

In 2022, Tracy launched a Toastmasters International Club at the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce and was recognized with a Club President Award in recognition of dedicated service and outstanding leadership.