As Halloween approaches, consumers are expected to spend over $13 billion on costumes, candy, and decorations in 2025. But along with the spooky fun, beware of scammers looking to ruin your holiday. From fake websites and shipping delays to return fraud and false advertising, Halloween shopping can quickly turn into a nightmare. This guide will help you spot the most common scams this season and give you practical tips to shop safely, so you can focus on the tricks and treats without the scams. Key Insights: One of the most common consumer issues during Halloween is returns and refunds. To avoid it, check policies in advance, especially for seasonal items. Fraudulent Facebook groups and other social media channels can promote fake Halloween sales, often using well-known brands to lend credibility, only to steal consumers’ money. Always check the legitimacy of the website, read customer reviews, verify delivery times, and be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true. So, how to stay safe during this Halloween celebration? Stay vigilant against ghosts, ghouls, and creepy scammers. And if the worst happens and you do wind up falling for a clever scam, you can always take advantage of our strategies after being scammed to make the wrong things right again. What Are the Most Common Halloween Scams? Halloween scams are, unfortunately, common. Shoppers may encounter fraud through fake costume sales, delayed shipments, or businesses refusing to process returns. Shipping and delivery scams When you find a great Halloween deal, you expect quick delivery, especially when you’ve ordered in advance. But sometimes, the package doesn’t arrive on time, and the delay stretches far longer than expected. This type of issue is at the heart of one of the most common Halloween scams – shipping and delivery fraud. One customer shared their frustrating experience with an Alibaba seller in review #6188163. After purchasing a Halloween product, the customer was told it would arrive within 25 days. However, 53 days later, the item still hadn’t arrived. …they don't want to refund me, not even Alibaba, after I asked them to mediate my case. The seller in the chat, 'Jack Wu', keeps lying to me about delivery time, consistently telling me that I will soon receive the product. Refund scams and return fraud Some companies are great at providing Halloween ideas, but when you order the item (and pay for it, of course), you wind up in possession of something far different than what you thought you were getting. When they suddenly won’t honor Halloween returns, you’ve run into real trouble. These are other Halloween scams - return and refund ones. Now, they aren’t refund scams if a reputable company sends you something that doesn’t live up to your expectations, of course. In those situations, you can simply return the item, and the company will issue a refund. In other situations, however, some companies fail to let you cancel or return the order, fully aware that you expected to have options when the company under-delivered. In the case of one Halloween customer, they spent hundreds of dollars on a large, animated skeleton for the Halloween celebration. Within weeks, they had problems and were ready to return the purchase. At that point, the reviewer realized that they “feel deceived by Joanns' misleading tactics.” They continue by saying They prominently display a sentence stating that returns with a receipt will be refunded in the original method of payment…However, buried in the fine print, it states that orders placed using PayPal will be refunded with a physical gift card. When they returned the large skeleton, the customer now had “nearly $400 worth of store credit” but doesn’t have any additional needs at the store: They [JOANN Fabric] seem to exploit customers who pay through PayPal by giving them store credit instead of refunding their original payment method, all in the name of preserving their profits. False advertising and promises Ah, the old bait and switch. A company advertises a product that looks perfect for what you need or want. You order, send in your money, and wait for delivery, only to discover that you’ve been taken in by seriously false advertising. And your Halloween celebration is ruined. False advertising or false promises about delivery, the item, or the support after your purchase is extremely frustrating and challenging to address in a short holiday season. For example, in review #6036776, a customer tried to use a promotional discount at Dolls Kill and shared their frustration, saying You guys sent me a text today from Dolls Kill that says 30% off everything in capital letters for five hours only, when I try to use that code in there for my purchase, which is a Halloween costume that is not on sale. It doesn't work. The reviewer also expressed frustration with not being able to speak to a customer service agent and being asked to jump through extra steps just to get help with their order. To make things worse, they said, “I used to love Dolls Kill, been shopping here for many years, but this year I will no longer continue to shop with you guys.” Report a Scam Ticket scams Halloween celebrations come in all shapes and sizes, and theme parks and special events often try to offer unique experiences. However, this can also lead to ticket scams where customers end up with incorrect tickets or fall victim to misleading offers. In review #6187392, a consumer shared their experience buying tickets for The NYC Halloween Yacht Party and reported: I purchase the 2 coupon tickets for The NYC Halloween yacht party & they gave me 2 different dates I wanted the one for the 25th of October 2024 at 6 pm..one of my tickets is accurate but the other one is not.. Another scam that gained attention on TikTok involved a content creator who received an invitation to a Halloween party allegedly hosted by Universal Studios. The invitation seemed legitimate at first, but became suspicious when the organizers requested a deposit of $300 to reserve a spot, despite the event supposedly being an exclusive invite. The user shared her concerns on TikTok, cautioning others to be wary of unexpected charges for events that seem too good to be true. Fake website and impersonation scams There are many places to sell online if you’re a vendor. Amazon, Etsy, and eBay may be the top choices for most vendors, authentic and inauthentic alike. All you need to do to sell on these platforms is set up a “store” on the site and start collecting orders. These scams can be hard to spot, especially when they mimic legitimate retailers like Home Depot or Spirit Halloween. Once you’ve fallen for the scam and made your purchase, the website or page vanishes, and you’re left with nothing. One common scam involves fake Facebook groups advertising discounts on Halloween decorations. For example, a customer shared their experience in a Halloween sales group, revealing they were scammed by a fake Home Depot sale. The group claimed to offer exclusive deals on decorations, but after making a purchase, the customer realized it was a scam. This type of scam is designed to look convincing, especially when shoppers are in a hurry to grab a good deal. Source: facebook.com A Reddit forum poster almost fell for a similar scam about a fake Spirit Halloween website. He asked if an offer on the website “http://spirithalloweenwh.com/collections/hot-sale-halloweensale” was “too good to be true.” It was “too good to be true” and a Halloween scam since the actual Spirit Halloween website is https://www.spirithalloween.com/ without ‘wh’ before the dot. Source: spirithalloween.com How to Avoid Halloween Scams? Halloween scams often work because consumers are drawn to seemingly great deals or feel pressured to buy quickly. To avoid falling victim, follow these essential steps when shopping online this Halloween season. Shop with Trusted Vendors: Stick to retailers you trust and know. Avoid unfamiliar stores unless you can verify their legitimacy. Always look for clear contact information. Inspect Websites Carefully: Make sure the website is secure before making a purchase. Look for “https://” in the URL and consider using secure payment methods like PayPal. Compare Prices and Watch for Hidden Fees: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Compare prices with other retailers and watch out for hidden fees like high shipping costs. Shop Early and Plan for Delays: Avoid last-minute shopping. Early orders can help you avoid shipping delays or other potential disruptions that could spoil your Halloween plans. Check Consumer Reviews: Reading reviews from other consumers is crucial to gauge the reliability of a seller. If you can’t find any reviews or if they are overwhelmingly negative, avoid the seller. Do Your Research or Shop In-Store: If you're unsure about a website or a deal, consider shopping at a brick-and-mortar store. It can provide a safer alternative to online shopping. Seek expert guidance: PissedConsumer Club provides access to expert resources, advice, and a community dedicated to helping you handle consumer issues effectively. Halloween scams are, unfortunately, here to stay. There will always be opportunistic scammers trying to take advantage of others and their money. Thankfully, Halloween reviews and experiences can warn you about common issues so you can make the most of your autumn holidays. Have experiences of your own to share? Report a Scam