Appreciation post: The week my business email got hijacked and I learned the hard way

Three months ago, someone got into my company email and sent fake invoices to six of my regular clients. They almost got a $2,500 payment from one before she called me to check. The whole mess started because I was using the same password for my email and a forum that got hacked. It took me four solid days to get control back, convince my clients it was a scam, and set up two-factor authentication on everything. Now I use a password manager and a separate email just for signing up to stuff online. Has anyone else had to rebuild client trust after something like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver52311d ago

Brutal lesson, but a necessary one honestly. That password reuse trap gets so many people. Glad you got it sorted and upgraded your security setup.

reese_bell10d ago

Been there, it's a terrible feeling. After a similar hack, I called each client from a known number to explain. I also sent a formal letter on company paper by old-school mail to confirm the new security steps. The personal touch really helped. I offered a small discount on their next project as a goodwill gesture, which most refused but appreciated. Rebuilding trust just takes clear, direct communication.