Summer travel season is almost here, and while many small business owners across Texas and Louisiana are getting ready to enjoy some well-earned downtime, cybercriminals are getting ready too — by launching convincing travel-related email scams designed to steal your money and compromise your business.
At National Networks, we work with hundreds of businesses throughout the Gulf Coast region, and this time of year, we always see an uptick in vacation-season scams. Here’s what you need to know to keep yourself — and your business — protected.
How The Scam Works
Hackers craft fake booking confirmation emails that look almost identical to messages from trusted travel companies like Delta, Expedia, or Marriott.
These emails often include:
- Official-looking logos and formatting
- “Customer service” phone numbers
- Urgent subject lines like:
- “Your Trip To Destin Has Been Confirmed! Click Here For Details”
- “URGENT: Flight Change Notification”
- “Action Required: Confirm Your Hotel Stay”
When you click the link inside the email, you’re directed to a fake website asking you to log in or update payment information. Enter your details, and the hackers now have access to your financial accounts, travel bookings, or even your company’s internal systems. In some cases, clicking the link alone can download malware onto your device — putting your entire business network at risk.
Why This Scam Is So Dangerous For Businesses In Texas And Louisiana
For many small businesses here in the Gulf South, it’s common for one office manager, executive assistant, or admin to handle all company travel — from booking conference trips in Houston to arranging site visits across Louisiana’s industrial corridors.
Because they manage dozens of confirmations at once, a fake email can easily slip through unnoticed. One wrong click could:
- Expose your company credit card to fraudulent charges
- Compromise logins for important vendor or travel accounts
- Introduce ransomware or malware into your business network
Given how vital business continuity is here — especially in industries like construction, energy, healthcare, and education — even a short disruption can cost thousands.
How To Protect Yourself And Your Business
At National Networks, we recommend taking these simple but critical steps to protect your operations:
- Verify before you click: If you get a booking confirmation email, don’t click the link. Instead, go directly to the airline, hotel, or agency’s official website to check your reservations.
- Check the sender's address carefully: Scammers use email addresses that look close, but aren’t exact (e.g., @deltacom.com instead of @delta.com).
- Educate your team: Especially employees who book travel or manage expenses.
- Enable multifactor authentication (MFA): Even if someone’s credentials are stolen, MFA makes it much harder for cybercriminals to get in.
- Strengthen email security: Ensure your business email system has protections in place to block malicious links and attachments.
Don’t Let A Phishing Email Derail Your Business
Small businesses are the backbone of Texas and Louisiana, and National Networks is proud to support the hard-working companies that drive our region forward. Don’t let cybercriminals take advantage of you during your busiest seasons.
Get proactive today.
Start with a FREE Cybersecurity Assessment from National Networks. We’ll identify vulnerabilities, strengthen your defenses, and help you avoid costly mistakes like falling for phishing scams.
Click here to schedule your FREE assessment today! - https://ntwo.com/free-network-assessment/
