Headlines

Hackers Hold Jeweler’s Data Hostage

He paid a CA$2,300 ransom.

Published

4 years ago

September 24, 2019

INSTORE Staff

A jeweler in Barrie, Ontario, is recovering from a ransomware attack, Barrie 360 reports.

Jeff Walters, owner of Jeff Walters Jewellers, said business records dating back over two decades were held hostage.

The cybercriminals asked for money to release the data, and he ended up paying them CA$2,300.

So far, by paying the ransom and working with information technology professionals, Walters has been able to regain access to most but not all of his data, Barrie 360 reports.

Barrie Police spokesman Peter Leon was quoted saying, “Law enforcement does not recommend negotiating with these individuals, because it’s a form of organized crime. What people need to do is make sure to utilize safe and secure sites that don’t put them down a path that could be very, very dangerous.”

He said authorities are seeing more and more cyberattacks on small businesses.

Read more at the Barrie 360

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”