Phoenix Florist Reports $126,000 Missing from Business Account

Stem Swag owner Gary Guerin reported that over $126,000 vanished from his company’s online payment account this week. The missing funds represented the bulk of the shop’s revenue from its busiest month in nine years. Guerin discovered the loss while reviewing his Stripe account, which processes invoices for his floral design business in the Phoenix area.

The shop handled more than 114 events across the Valley in the previous 30 days. Guerin described the period as a peak season for the business. He said the theft hit during the final days of that busy stretch, creating an immediate cash flow crisis for the company.

Guerin stated that the intrusion began in October. He said unauthorized users accessed the account and transferred the money within a couple of days. "We discovered somebody had hacked into our accounts starting in October… And within the matter of just a couple of days, removed 126,000-plus dollars from our account," Guerin said. He described the experience as a gut punch for a small business.

The owner has been in contact with Stripe to resolve the issue. He said the company’s response has been slow. "We continuously get messages from multiple people at Stripe that this has been escalated, but nothing ever happens," Guerin said. He added that the delay is straining the shop’s resources.

To keep operations running, Guerin took out a loan. The money covered employee payroll and monthly bills. "I had to take out a loan to cover payroll and to pay my bills this month. We're not just a number on a screen. This is people's rent. It's their livelihood," he said. The loan serves as a temporary bridge while the shop waits for a refund or reimbursement.

Guerin has contacted local law enforcement and the FBI. He is pursuing recovery of the funds through multiple channels. "We will move forward. Small businesses are important and I will not be ignored. I will do everything within my power to protect my team and to protect other Arizona small businesses as well," Guerin said.

Stripe did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment. Guerin hopes the incident will alert other local businesses to the risks of online payment processing.