Urgent Action Needed: Facebook Is Unfairly Punishing Small Businesses Who Have Been Hacked
Urgent Action Needed: Facebook Is Unfairly Punishing Small Businesses Who Have Been Hacked
The Issue
If you are a small business owner whose Facebook page or business account is hacked, it may be months or years before you get assistance and relief from Facebook.
Facebook has no rapid response team to help small businesses recover their hacked accounts. This means Facebook holds you accountable for any ad charges that occur while your page was hacked, and any offensive posts that are published.
You face a steep uphill battle just to get Facebook to address your issue. If you are a new business, this may mean closure.
This petition demands that Facebook put resources in place to immediately help small businesses whose Facebook business account has been hacked, and to release them from liability for fraudulent ad charges or posts made while their account was hacked.
If your own a small business who has a Facebook presence, or know someone who does, it's time to speak out.
When your Facebook business account is hacked, and you are removed as the admin, you have no control over what happens to your account, but Facebook holds you fully accountable.
It happened to me.
Three days before Black Friday 2022 my Facebook business account was hacked. The hackers spent almost $7,000 over the next 2 days. I immediately alerted Facebook. I was told that the issue was very complex and their "internal team" was working on it. For 6 months Facebook told me this same message.
Today, I do have access into my account (after 6 months of no access) but it is still restricted as I refuse to pay the $7,000 in fraudulent ad charges. I have been urging Facebook to remove those charges but am still being ignored. Once again, it is in the hands of the "internal team". We are now on month 11 of my fight to restore my business account. Facebook has restricted me from advertising, making changes to my account, and from opening a Facebook or Instagram shop. When I pay the $7,000 they will remove the restrictions (supposedly).
But this petition is not about my business. My business will survive this. However, many will not. This petition about supporting ALL small business owners who have been hacked and are being ignored by Facebook.
The length of time it takes Meta to address these issues is sometimes the difference between a business staying open or having to shut its doors.
When high profile Facebook accounts are hacked they receive media coverage and immediate attention from Meta. However, when small business accounts are hacked, they are largely ignored for months.
This situation is deeply unfair and unjustifiable.
Small businesses already face numerous challenges in today's competitive market; they should not have to bear the burden of financial losses caused by hackers exploiting vulnerabilities within Meta platforms' security systems.
It is imperative that Meta Platforms takes immediate action to address these hacking issues affecting small businesses like mine:
1. Strengthen Security Measures: Enhance security protocols within your platforms to prevent unauthorized access and protect small business accounts from hacking attempts.
2. Prompt Investigation & Resolution: Establish dedicated teams with swift response times to investigate reported incidents promptly and provide timely resolutions for affected users.
3. Transparent Communication & Support: Improve communication channels with users facing hacking issues by providing clear updates, guidance, and support throughout the recovery process.
4. Fair Financial Responsibility: Review and revise policies regarding financial responsibility for unauthorized expenses incurred by hackers. Small businesses should not be held accountable for charges they did not authorize or benefit from.
By addressing these concerns, Meta Platforms can demonstrate its commitment to supporting small businesses and ensuring the security of their accounts on its platforms. The impact of hacking incidents goes beyond financial losses; it affects the livelihoods of countless entrepreneurs who rely on Meta's advertising services to reach their customers.
Together, we can create a more secure environment that empowers entrepreneurs rather than leaving them vulnerable to malicious attacks.
Show your support for small business - please join me in signing today.
Thank you for your help!
Karen Marsh
290
The Issue
If you are a small business owner whose Facebook page or business account is hacked, it may be months or years before you get assistance and relief from Facebook.
Facebook has no rapid response team to help small businesses recover their hacked accounts. This means Facebook holds you accountable for any ad charges that occur while your page was hacked, and any offensive posts that are published.
You face a steep uphill battle just to get Facebook to address your issue. If you are a new business, this may mean closure.
This petition demands that Facebook put resources in place to immediately help small businesses whose Facebook business account has been hacked, and to release them from liability for fraudulent ad charges or posts made while their account was hacked.
If your own a small business who has a Facebook presence, or know someone who does, it's time to speak out.
When your Facebook business account is hacked, and you are removed as the admin, you have no control over what happens to your account, but Facebook holds you fully accountable.
It happened to me.
Three days before Black Friday 2022 my Facebook business account was hacked. The hackers spent almost $7,000 over the next 2 days. I immediately alerted Facebook. I was told that the issue was very complex and their "internal team" was working on it. For 6 months Facebook told me this same message.
Today, I do have access into my account (after 6 months of no access) but it is still restricted as I refuse to pay the $7,000 in fraudulent ad charges. I have been urging Facebook to remove those charges but am still being ignored. Once again, it is in the hands of the "internal team". We are now on month 11 of my fight to restore my business account. Facebook has restricted me from advertising, making changes to my account, and from opening a Facebook or Instagram shop. When I pay the $7,000 they will remove the restrictions (supposedly).
But this petition is not about my business. My business will survive this. However, many will not. This petition about supporting ALL small business owners who have been hacked and are being ignored by Facebook.
The length of time it takes Meta to address these issues is sometimes the difference between a business staying open or having to shut its doors.
When high profile Facebook accounts are hacked they receive media coverage and immediate attention from Meta. However, when small business accounts are hacked, they are largely ignored for months.
This situation is deeply unfair and unjustifiable.
Small businesses already face numerous challenges in today's competitive market; they should not have to bear the burden of financial losses caused by hackers exploiting vulnerabilities within Meta platforms' security systems.
It is imperative that Meta Platforms takes immediate action to address these hacking issues affecting small businesses like mine:
1. Strengthen Security Measures: Enhance security protocols within your platforms to prevent unauthorized access and protect small business accounts from hacking attempts.
2. Prompt Investigation & Resolution: Establish dedicated teams with swift response times to investigate reported incidents promptly and provide timely resolutions for affected users.
3. Transparent Communication & Support: Improve communication channels with users facing hacking issues by providing clear updates, guidance, and support throughout the recovery process.
4. Fair Financial Responsibility: Review and revise policies regarding financial responsibility for unauthorized expenses incurred by hackers. Small businesses should not be held accountable for charges they did not authorize or benefit from.
By addressing these concerns, Meta Platforms can demonstrate its commitment to supporting small businesses and ensuring the security of their accounts on its platforms. The impact of hacking incidents goes beyond financial losses; it affects the livelihoods of countless entrepreneurs who rely on Meta's advertising services to reach their customers.
Together, we can create a more secure environment that empowers entrepreneurs rather than leaving them vulnerable to malicious attacks.
Show your support for small business - please join me in signing today.
Thank you for your help!
Karen Marsh
290
Petition created on September 21, 2023