Halloween is just around the corner! Whether you’re in the market for a new costume or are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Halloween decorations you ordered, it’s crucial to be aware of prevalent Halloween scams. Read on to discover essential tips to keep you safe this spooky season.

Halloween Scam #1: Fake Costume Sites

Still undecided about your Halloween look? If you’re browsing for costumes online, be vigilant about fraudulent websites set up by scammers. For instance, one notorious fake site has been masquerading as the reputable Spirit Halloween store.

The counterfeit site’s URL is spirithalloween-us[.]com, which cleverly adds “-us” to mimic the authentic website’s domain, spirithalloween.com. However, it is not affiliated in any way with the genuine Spirit Halloween brand.

Scammers have promoted the fake site through social media ads, offering significant discounts to lure unsuspecting shoppers.

Purchasing from these deceptive sites is highly risky. Products ordered are often never delivered. Such sites are designed to steal your money along with personal and financial information, such as your email address and credit card number. Once scammers have your details, they could potentially sell them to other cybercriminals on the dark web or use them for further fraudulent activities.

Security Tips: How to Avoid Scam Shopping Sites

When shopping online, keep these key points in mind to protect yourself from scams:

• Check the URL: Ensure the web address matches the legitimate retailer’s URL exactly. Be skeptical of URLs with extra words or characters.
• Secure Connection: Look for “https://” in the URL and a padlock icon, indicating a secure connection.
• Research the Site: Search the internet for reviews or scam reports related to the website.
• Beware of Big Discounts: Extremely low prices can be a red flag for scam sites.
• Use Secure Payment Options: Pay with credit cards or services like PayPal for added protection.

Halloween Scam #2: Customs Clearance Text Scams

Although this smishing scam (SMS phishing) isn’t Halloween-specific, if you’re likely to purchase a costume or Halloween decorations online in the near future, it’s one that you need to be aware of. Here’s what the scam looks like:

The message falsely claims that a parcel you’ve ordered couldn’t clear customs and prompts you to reply and click on a link (blurred in the screenshot above). This link likely directs to a malicious website intended to harvest your personal information, which, similar to the first scam, could potentially be sold on the dark web or used for other fraudulent activities.

Security Tips: How to Avoid Smishing Scams

Remember these key points to protect yourself from smishing scams:

• Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Messages: Treat unexpected texts with suspicion, especially those requesting personal or financial details.
• Avoid Clicking on Links: Do not click on links in texts unless you’re certain they come from a trusted source.
• Verify the Source: If a text claims urgent action is needed, verify its authenticity by contacting the institution directly.
• Use ScamCheck: The newly updated ScamCheck can automatically filter spam and scam text messages, keeping you safe from smishing scams. Check below for more information about Trend Micro ScamCheck.

Protect Yourself Against Scams with ScamCheck

With the sheer number of scams and scammers that are out there, staying one step ahead is more crucial than ever. Introducing the newly updated Trend Micro ScamCheck! Available for both Android and iOS, ScamCheck offers comprehensive protection from scam websites, scam and spam text messages, deepfakes, and more:

• SMS Filter & Call Block: Say goodbye to unwanted spam and scam calls and messages. Minimize daily disruptions and reinforce your defenses against phishing.
• Scam Check: Instantly analyze emails, texts, URLs, screenshots, and phone numbers with our AI-powered scam detection technology. Stay secure and scam-free.
• Deepfake Scan: Detect deepfakes in real-time during video calls, alerting you if anyone is using AI face-swapping technology to alter their appearance.
• Web Guard: Surf the web safely, protected from malicious websites and annoying ads.

To download Trend Micro ScamCheck or to learn more, click the button below.

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