A recent phishing attempt reported by an outdoor hospitality association serves as an important reminder: not every email that appears to come from Facebook or Meta is legitimate. 

Merchantry Tourism invited guest blogger Brian Kelly, Founder of Bucky Solutions, to tell the tale...

The association received what appeared to be a Facebook Business Manager request and reached out to Bucky Solutions for verification before taking any action. At first glance, the message looked convincing. It used familiar branding and referenced a business account request that could easily appear legitimate to someone managing social media or marketing responsibilities.

After reviewing the email, several warning signs became apparent. The message directed recipients away from Meta's official platforms and toward a third-party website. While the branding looked familiar, the request could not be independently verified through Meta Business Suite and raised concerns about its authenticity.

This type of scam is becoming increasingly common. As outdoor hospitality businesses and associations rely more heavily on Facebook and Instagram to communicate with members, guests, and customers, attackers have become more sophisticated in their attempts to gain access to those accounts.

Associations, campgrounds, and resorts are all potential targets because multiple individuals often share responsibility for marketing, communications, and business accounts. When several people are involved, fraudulent requests can sometimes appear legitimate at first glance.

Fortunately, the association involved in this situation did exactly the right thing. Rather than clicking the link immediately, they paused and asked for a second opinion. That simple step may have prevented unauthorized access to important business assets.

If you receive an unexpected request involving Facebook, Meta, email accounts, domains, reservation systems, or other business technology, take a moment to verify the source before taking action. Logging in directly through the official platform is always safer than following links contained in an email.

Technology scams continue to evolve, but the best defense remains the same: verify first, then act.

If you're unsure whether a technology-related email is legitimate, forward it to verify@buckysolutions.com. We'll review it and help determine whether it's safe before you take action.

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Bucky Solutions provides outside tech support for RV parks and campgrounds. They manage websites, online booking systems, domains, email, and software integrations.