Perth tourism boss loses $80,000 to email scam impersonating his own business
Meng Wong's tourism firm lost $80,000 when scammers created fake email addresses mimicking his and his client's domains.
A Perth tourism business was hit by a sophisticated scam in April 2024 that shows how easily small firms can be targeted. Meng Wong was organising a $100,000 tour package for 20 Taiwanese tourists.
When the remaining $80,000 payment was due, scammers had already intercepted emails between Wong and his client. Scammers created near-identical domain names and sent instructions to transfer the money to a fraudulent account.
Both Wong and his client believed the request was genuine. The money was never recovered, and the scam damaged their business relationship.
More than two years later, Wong was targeted again using the same tactics, but this time a Hong Kong client caught the fake email and checked with him directly before paying. A survey of 545 small business owners found 43% had faced at least one cyber threat in the past year.
- $80,000
- Amount lost
- $100,000
- Tour package value
- 20
- Tourists in group
- 43% of 545 surveyed
- Small businesses facing cyber threats
Why it mattersSmall businesses often assume they're too small to target; this shows scammers pursue the most vulnerable firms, not just the biggest.
AustraliaAustralian small business owners face rising email fraud; banks offer little protection when account names don't match, leaving owners to shoulder the loss.
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