Burleigh’s SeaDog cafe extorted by online hackers as social media giant Instagram fails to help

A frustrated Burleigh cafe owner claims social media giant Meta is doing little to help regain access to his business account as hackers continue to hold it for ransom.

Hackers are stealing the social media accounts of Gold Coast small businesses trying to extort money for their return – and global giant Instagram is doing little to help.

Popular cafe SeaDog had its online property stolen more than three weeks ago.

The crooks are refusing to give back access to its @SeaDogonJames Instagram account, hacking into customer profiles and all to exploit the business out of $3000.

The company’s phone number, email and two-factor authentication were changed.

For many small businesses, the accounts are crucial for advertising and customer databases.

SeaDog owner Brodie Green says his business is being destroyed as hackers hold his Instagram account for ransom. Picture: Richard Gosling

SeaDog owner Brodie Green, who has lodged a complaint with police, is furious with Instagram – now operating under MetaVerse – for its lack of adequate security to help operators regain access to their business profiles.

“I’ve had this Instagram for 10 years, and in 10 years I would’ve spent thousands and thousand of worth of advertising and marketing on their platform,” he said.

“I thought it would be fine when it was hacked as surely the biggest social media platform would have a support centre, but there’s no clear email address, no live support, nothing.”

Screenshots of interactions between hackers and Sea Dog owner Brodie Green. Picture: Supplied

Instagram says “several actions” of recourse are available to users who believe their account has been hacked, including an email alerting the user to a change of email address.

Users could also request a security code or verify their identity to the Meta support team by providing a “video selfie” of users turning their heads in different directions.

But Mr Green said this was not an appropriate solution for business accounts in which many owners choose to spruik their venues, products and customers – not their own faces.

Hackers speak with Sea Dog owner Brodie Green in an attempt to extort $3,000. Picture: supplied

“I’ve been declined twice because of this, even though I’ve sent my ID and a police report. I’ve sent all this stuff and they’re still saying I can’t retrieve it,” he said.

Reece’s Plumbing and the team behind swimwear boutique James & West have faced similar difficulties.

In a direct message from the SeaDog Instagram page, which has thousands of followers, the hackers ask Mr Green if “he needed his account back”.

They later tried to extort $3000.

“We’ve worked our arses off and this is not the time. We’re struggling at the moment and we can’t afford to lose out account which is how we communicate with our customers,” he said.

Hackers speak with Sea Dog owner Brodie Green in an attempt to extort $3,000. Picture: supplied

“It’s not just a small, isolated issue, it’s a huge security issue that Meta are facing. They’re just allowing it to happen.

“I don’t feel great right now, so many small businesses are just trying to keep our heads above water and now this happens.”

Meta did not reply to Bulletin requests for comment.

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Originally published as Burleigh’s SeaDog cafe extorted by online hackers as social media giant Instagram fails to help