Scammers Love Halloween Too
By Greg Collier
Halloween brings excitement, costumes, and creative decorating. It also brings a wave of online scams targeting shoppers rushing to find last-minute deals. The Better Business Bureau is cautioning consumers to stay alert this season as fraudulent websites and social media ads try to take advantage of the holiday rush.
Reports have emerged of websites posing as legitimate retailers offering heavily discounted costumes, accessories, and decor. The pages may appear convincing and even allow users to complete checkout. What happens next is nothing. Orders never arrive, and customer inquiries go unanswered. In other cases, the items that do show up arrive weeks later and bear little resemblance to what was advertised. These sites often rely on AI-generated reviews and staged product photos to appear trustworthy. Reused phrasing, identical five-star comments across different products, and stock-style imagery can indicate fabricated feedback meant to lure in fast-moving shoppers.
The BBB continues to remind consumers that a price that looks impossibly low is often exactly that. Before entering payment information, it is worth taking a closer look at the seller’s online footprint. A quick search of the website’s domain through a WHOIS or ICANN lookup can reveal whether the site was registered only days earlier, which is common with short-lived scam operations. Authentic retailers typically provide full contact information, including a physical address and working customer support number. If a seller only offers an email field or a chat widget with no other traceable information, caution is advised. Shipping and return policies are another sign of credibility. Legitimate businesses usually disclose where items are shipped from, how long delivery takes, and how to initiate a return. Scam sites often bury unclear terms in small print or avoid stating any policy at all.
Payment method remains an important line of defense. Credit cards generally offer the strongest fraud protection and allow for disputes if merchandise never arrives or arrives in unacceptable condition. Bank transfers, peer-to-peer apps, or direct payment requests provide little to no recourse. If a financial institution flags a transaction as suspicious, it is better to review the alert than override it in an attempt to secure a bargain.
For those who would rather not gamble on unfamiliar websites, local retailers provide a practical alternative. Thrift stores and brick-and-mortar chains often dedicate entire sections to seasonal merchandise, allowing shoppers to inspect quality and confirm fit immediately. Organizations such as Goodwill report that Halloween is one of their busiest times, with racks of costumes and decor readily available to browse and try on.
If a scam does occur, the BBB encourages consumers to report it to local police, the Federal Trade Commission, and state consumer protection offices rather than quietly accepting the loss. These reports help agencies track trends and shut down fraudulent operators before they can ensnare others.
Halloween should be entertaining rather than stressful. A quick background check on a seller is often all it takes to ensure that the holiday spirit stays fun instead of frightening.
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