I Got Hacked - Here's How It Happened & How to Protect Yourself

Jo Rawald • February 20, 2025

Hackers Got Into My Email, Bank, and Credit Card—Here’s What I Missed

 
"I Thought I Was Just Checking My Email… Turns Out, I Opened the Door for Hackers."

One click. That’s all it took.

One distracted moment—between answering emails and running my business—was all a hacker needed to steal my email, compromise my domain, and rack up a $3,000 charge on my credit card.

Here’s how it happened, and more importantly—how you can avoid it.


How I Got Hacked (And How You Can Avoid It)

Yesterday, I was fully locked into Day 1 of a mind-blowing, game-changing Growth Seminar with Alan Samuel Cohen and Joyful Business Revolution.

And when I say locked in, I mean notifications off, phone on silent, fully present, and soaking up every single gem they dropped.

Alan, Shannon, and Amy are masters at what they do. They’re teaching us how to elevate our brands through the power of storytelling - not just the “tell your story” kind, but the magnetic, audience-connecting, business-elevating kind that turns casual listeners into lifelong clients.

And let me tell you - Day 1 was absolutely fantastic.
✅ We dug deep into how our personal journeys shape our brand identity
✅ We learned how to tell stories in a way that creates trust and connection
✅ We uncovered the missing pieces in our messaging that are keeping our audience from fully engaging

It’s one of those experiences where you realize…
💡 You’ve been doing some things right
💡 You’ve been missing some HUGE opportunities
💡 And you’ve got so much untapped potential sitting right in front of you

I was so in it that I had zero clue my email had been hacked, my business domain was compromised, and someone was out there enjoying a $3,000 shopping spree on my dime.

More on that in a minute.
But first—if you ever get the chance to attend one of Alan, Shannon, and Amy’s workshops, RUN, don’t walk.  This isn’t surface-level branding fluff. This is deep, transformative work that makes you see your business in a whole new way.

Now, back to how I got hacked… 🚨 (Stay tuned!)



Fast forward to driving home… 

My phone starts blowing up with calls, texts, and emails from friends. Messages like:
"Hey, did you get hacked?"
"Jo, this doesn’t look right. Did you send this?"

Some of them knew right away that something was off. I don’t send out "Bid Proposals" - ever. So instead of clicking the link in the email, they did the smart thing and reached out to me first.


At the same time, I get a notification of a $3,000 charge on my Mastercard—to a company I’ve never even heard of.


That’s when I knew something was seriously wrong.

Now, normally I have my credit card locked down, but I had just enabled it to pay the valet at the workshop. Bad timing? Definitely.  The Perfect Storm? For Sure.


I get home, check my accounts, and boom -
✔️
My email is hacked
✔️
My business domain is compromised
✔️
My credit card was hijacked


At this point, I can’t get a hold of anyone for my domain/email—everyone is closed. So, I dispute the charge with my bank (shoutout to them for immediately crediting me back) and move on to damage control mode.




Morning Comes… And Then It Gets Worse


I wake up with pink eye.
Because, you know…
Why not?


As if getting hacked, losing access to my email and business accounts, and dealing with a fraudulent $3,000 charge weren’t enough. Now, my eye is swollen, irritated, and looking like I just went ten rounds in a boxing match.


At this point, I have two choices. Push through and pretend everything is fine, or take it as a very clear sign from the universe that today is not the day to force things.


I call Alan, let him know I won’t be making it to Day 2 of the workshop, and resign myself to spending the day un-fucking my accounts.   




THIS is Where It All Started


By pure coincidence, I get a phone call from Stripe (a merchant service I use). I had submitted a support ticket days ago, and they were just now getting back to me.


The rep, Robert, says he’s following up on my login issues. I explain what’s happening, and as we start digging, we trace everything back to February 10th10 days ago—when I received what looked like a legit email from Stripe.

Spoiler Alert: It wasn’t Stripe.

  • The email came from support@adm-strip.com (not stripe.com)
  • The logo clicked through to the real Stripe website (so it seemed legit)
  • The “Review Account Details” button took me to a login page that looked exactly like Stripe


Without thinking much of it, I entered my login info, the page gave me a notification that a representative will be calling me and I moved on with my day.




🚨 Big Mistake. 🚨


I later got a second email (on Feb 17th) asking for more personal info, and that’s when I realized—I’d been scammed. The real Stripe would have only asked me for the last 4-digits of my bank account number; not the entire number.  Albeit, this was a very convincing scam.


By logging into the first fake Stripe page, they got access to:

⚠️ My email login
⚠️ My
business banking details
⚠️ My
credit card info


Lesson learned: Hackers don’t need your permission. They just need one distracted moment.




If This Can Happen to Me, It Can Happen to Anyone

So, here’s how to avoid this mess:
Always check the sender’s email—if it’s slightly off, it’s fake.
Never log in from email links—go directly to the website instead.
Use 2-factor authentication—make hackers’ lives harder.
Trust your gut—if something feels off, pause and investigate.


My email and domain are still being sorted out, but the good news? I’m taking back control.


Ever been hacked? Drop your horror story in the comments below. Let’s help each other stay one step ahead.


#LessonsLearned #CyberSecurityMatters #StayVigilant



By Jo Rawald June 3, 2025
You ever walk into Costco for one thing, and leave wondering what the heck just happened to your life? That was me last night. All I needed was paper towels. Just one 12-pack brick of industrial absorbency, thank you very much. But the moment I stepped through those magical warehouse doors, it all unraveled. First, I saw a velvet chaise lounge I definitely don’t need. Then - it was a six-tier spice rack. A kayak. A weighted blanket. A 5-lb tub of Gummy Bears I haven’t stopped thinking about. By the time I made it to checkout, I was $312 deep in, “Maybe I’ll use this someday ” purchases. And that’s when it hit me. This is exactly what shiny object syndrome looks like. Not just in Costco. In business. You start with a clear goal - launch a course, a new service or a new product, finish your website, close three new clients. But somewhere along the way, you get distracted by someone else’s launch, a new app, a Canva template you’ll definitely use one day. You buy a course. Download a funnel template. Rebrand your business at midnight. Before you know it, you’re carting around half-baked ideas and unopened tools you never actually needed, and your real revenue-generating work is buried under distractions. It’s a costly habit. Not just in money but, in time, clarity, confidence, and momentum. Here’s your wake-up call => If it doesn’t drive sales, systems, or sanity - put it back on the shelf. You don’t need more stuff. You need a strategy that works. One that moves your business forward with intention and impact. So if you’re tired of carting around the chaos, and ready to focus on what actually gets results - I got you. Check out the free resources on my site or book a quick call. No pressure. Just clarity, next steps, and a bold plan that keeps your eyes on the prize. Download your free Focus to Profit Blueprint so, the next time distraction shows up dressed as a business breakthrough, you’ll know the difference. With Grace & Grit, Jo Jo Rawald Growth Architect for Women Entrepreneurs | Lean Six Sigma Black Belt 📞 (305) 934-0006 | ✉️ jo@jorawald.com www.JoRawald.com | @xojorawald www.QueenKongBiz.com | @queenkongbiz
By Jo Rawald May 20, 2025
Have you ever had one of your childhood memories come crashing back at ya with full volume and suddenly you're 14 again... but this time, with 40 more years of hindsight and a whole lot more humility? Yeah. That happened to me last weekend.I had the honor of being a keynote speaker at one of the best women’s business events I’ve ever attended - the WFS Female Founders Forum 2025 , hosted by the phenomenal nonprofit Women for Success . The room was filled with powerful, purpose-driven women who weren’t there to play small. They came to scale, get certified, and secure the kind of legacy their Moms would brag about at church.
By Jo Rawald May 6, 2025
Imagine losing money every time you make a sale… and choosing to do it anyway. That’s exactly what Costco has done - for 40 years straight - with their $1.50 hot dog + soda combo. Yep. One dollar. Fifty cents. No inflation. No markup. No apology. And when someone on the leadership team had the nerve to suggest raising the price? Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal flat-out said, "If you raise the price of the hot dog, I will kill you." Savage? Maybe. Strategic? 1000%. Because he got something most business owners miss entirely… => Not everything you sell is about profit. Some things are about perception. That hot dog isn’t just a cheap meal. It’s a statement: “We’re not here to nickel-and-dime you. We’re here to treat you right.” And guess what? That tiny loss leader earns them billions in customer loyalty, trust, and recurring revenue. I call this the Hot Dog Method: 🌭 Sacrifice something small. 🌭 Earn something massive. 🌭 Make it memorable. Every business can have a $1.50 hot dog moment: 🌭 A bonus your clients didn’t see coming 🌭 A “damn, no one else does that” type of policy 🌭 A ridiculously over-delivered offer that makes them tell 3 friends The key? Don’t hide it. Flaunt it. Repeat it. Build a reputation around it. Make it so obvious your clients can point and say, “That’s why I work with her. No one else shows up like that.” So here’s your million-dollar reflection: What’s YOUR $1.50 hot dog? Find it. Double down on it. Then sit back and watch your referrals multiply like Costco memberships in January.
By Jo Rawald April 16, 2025
I went to a networking event yesterday at Rosie’s Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors. Tropical-chic to the max. You know the kind of place - upscale casual, strong cocktails, mandatory valet. Now usually, I’m all about valet. But not yesterday. I wasn’t there to sip martinis or hang around all night. I could only stay for 20-minutes. That means - I was on a serious 20-minute mission: say hi, shake hands, peace out. Then, get back in my car to jump on a Zoom meeting! I certainly wasn’t about to drop $20 just to park my car for 20 minutes. No way! I pulled into the valet area, looked the guy dead in the eye, and said, “I’ll be in and out faster than your last relationship. Can I just park it right here?” And bless his heart - he said yes. Honestly, that should’ve been my win for the night. But then I met Sean Gac-Guerrier. Sean’s the Marketing Director at Excel Title, Inc. We started talking about dogs - and **cue the angels singing. We clicked instantly. Not two strangers meeting, more like two childhood friends who hadn’t seen each other in a decade! Sean showed me a photo of his dog, Dottie. I pulled out pics of my girl, Adelaide. Then he pulled out a photo of Dottie that stopped me in my tracks. Sean had a photo of what Dottie would look like as a human. Not a cartoon. Not a filter. I’m talking AI-generated, fully humanized, real-world, cardigan-wearing, intelligent-and-intimidating Dottie. I was mesmerized! It was as if Pixar and the FBI teamed up to design her. I looked at Adelaide’s pic… then looked back at Sean… and blurted out, “I need to humanize my dog!!” And I did. I went home, found the exact AI prompt, uploaded Adelaide’s photo, answered a few fun questions about her personality, and style - then… BOOM. Human Adelaide was born. Tall, lean, cozy-chic, with that unmistakable “don’t-mess-with-me-but-I’ll-still-hug-you” vibe. She looked like she ran Homeland Security and still had time for tacos and espresso martinis on a rooftop. Honestly? I stared at the image for like five minutes. Because it wasn’t just about making something cute. It was about seeing something familiar - something you know - come to life in a new way. Here’s the AI Prompt if you want to try it yourself:
Leftover rice and a single grape on a lunch tray with the caption
By Jo Rawald April 11, 2025
Your business is not a side dish. It’s the main course—and it deserves to be treated like one. In this no-BS blog, I’m calling out “leftover” business strategies that leave women entrepreneurs stuck, stressed, and scaling in all the wrong ways. Discover how to build a business that’s bold, sustainable, and built to outlast trends using my BAMBOO Framework.
How to optimize your business for profit using systems, strategy, and the BAMBOO framework.
By BSDB7200 April 9, 2025
Too many women are stuck in the hustle—working nonstop, solving the same problems, and barely seeing the return. You didn’t start your business to burn out. You started it to break free. If you’re ready to ditch the stress and build a business that actually pays you back, this is your moment. Join me LIVE in South Florida at Brains, Brilliance & Bold Moves—where I’ll show you how to scale smart, simplify your systems, and make way more money doing less. 🍷 Dinner, wine, and your profit breakthrough: www.jorawald.com/Brains-Brilliance-and-Bold-Moves
Stop running a chaotic business. Learn how to simplify systems and increase profit with strategy.
By Jo Rawald April 4, 2025
If your business feels like a tornado of to-do lists, dropped balls, and duct-taped systems… it’s not just exhausting—it’s expensive. Chaos costs you time, clarity, and cold hard cash. This blog is your wake-up call: 🛠️ Simplify your operations 💸 Stop bleeding profit 📈 Build a business that works for you Read it. Apply it. Start making smart money moves → 👉 https://siteeditor.thryv.com/home/site/c8e9f361/blog/if-your-business-feels-like-a-hot-mess-its-costing-you-money#preview
Learn why most businesses lose revenue and how to fix it with smart, profit-focused strategies.
By Jo Rawald April 2, 2025
You’re not charging too much. You’re not “bad at sales.” You’re just leaving money on the table—and this blog breaks down exactly how to stop. If you’re underpricing, over-delivering, or relying on guesswork to grow… you’re leaking profit. Let’s fix that. I’m giving you the tools to: 💰 Price like a pro 📊 Package for profit 🎯 Sell with strategy Read it, bookmark it, share it with your business BFFs → 👉 www.jorawald.com/youre-leaving-money-on-the-table-lets-fix-that
Attract right-fit clients by clarifying your message and showing up with authority and intention.
By Jo Rawald March 31, 2025
The right clients are watching—but do they actually know what you do? If your messaging is vague, cute, or confusing, you’re basically invisible. This blog is your wake-up call to get crystal clear, magnetic, and straight-up undeniable. You’ll learn how to: 🧲 Attract the right people (without chasing) 📢 Clarify your offer 👑 Show up as the go-to expert in your space Because your next client isn’t on the fence—they’re just unsure if you are the answer. Fix that here → 👉 www.jorawald.com/the-right-clients-should-be-coming-to-you-theyre-watching-but-do-they-know-what-you-do
How one Zoom call transformed my coaching strategy and simplified how I get clients results.
By Jo Rawald March 28, 2025
One Zoom call. That’s all it took to blow up how I coach—and rebuild it into something way more powerful. If you’re overcomplicating your client process, trying to “do it all,” or feel like coaching is starting to drain you… this blog is your game-changer. Inside, I break down: 🔥 The shift that simplified everything 🎯 How I get faster results (without burning out) 💡 What most coaches get totally wrong If you’re a coach or service provider who’s doing the most and getting the least—read this NOW. 👉 www.jorawald.com/this-one-zoom-call-changed-how-i-coached-forever
More Posts