Fake Costume Sites Haunt Missouri Shoppers, BBB Warns

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a rise in fake websites. Khesha Duncan with the BBB’s Columbia office says Halloween kicks off a season full of scams.

“And it’s much easier for scammers to try and take advantage of consumers during a very seasonal, very short period of time, so it’s easy for them to set up a fake website to sell costumes that they may or may not actually sell, or that may or may not even exist.

Duncan said scammers have several tricks that entice clicks.

“They may say they have overstock clearance or super reduced prices, and those too good to be true opportunities, and they want you to of course enter your payment information. You know, if you fall for it and hit buy, you may or may not ever get something in the mail. You may never see that costume.”

To avoid falling for a Halloween costume scam, Duncan recommends doing a little research before you buy. She says a quick Google search—adding the word ‘scam’ or ‘complaint’ after the company name—can help you spot red flags before you buy.

She says checking for a real address and phone number can help you avoid getting scammed.

“Because you don’t have anybody you can connect with or talk to. And that’s another reason why it’s so good to look up those reviews. We also encourage people to use a website checker like Google Safe Browsing tool.”

Duncan says a quick check before you click could keep your Halloween from turning into a horror story.