Don’t Get Tricked When Shopping for Halloween

Halloween shopping is starting earlier, and families are spending money on much more than candy.

From elaborate yard decorations and trending costumes to makeup, contact lenses and haunted-house tickets, the holiday has become a full shopping season. According to the National Retail Federation, one-quarter of consumers had already purchased a Halloween item by early August 2026.

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BBB Eastern New England is reminding shoppers that fake websites and misleading social media advertisements can look almost identical to those from legitimate retailers.

"Halloween should be fun—not a nightmarish lesson in fake websites, poor-quality costumes or return policies that disappear faster than the candy," said Paula Fleming, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer and Chief Spokesperson for BBB Eastern New England. "Take a few extra minutes to research the seller, read the fine print and check the safety of anything your child will wear, eat or carry."

Before making a Halloween purchase, consumers should:

• Research unfamiliar retailers at bbb.org.
• Search the company's name with "review," "complaint" and "scam."
• Be cautious of prices that are significantly lower than those offered by established retailers.
• Read shipping and return policies before paying.
• Confirm that the business provides reliable contact information.
• Pay by credit card for additional purchase protection.
• Avoid sellers requesting payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
• Save receipts, order confirmations and screenshots.

Shoppers visiting seasonal pop-up stores should ask when the location will close, which items are final sale and whether returns will be accepted after October 31.

Costume safety

Look for costumes, masks, wigs and beards labeled flame resistant. Costumes should fit properly, allow children to see clearly and be short enough to prevent tripping.

Add reflective tape, lights or glow sticks to costumes and treat bags. Choose soft, flexible accessories and use battery-operated candles in pumpkins and decorations.

Decorative contact lenses should only be purchased with guidance and a prescription from an eye-care professional.

Candy safety

Parents should ask children to wait until they return home before eating treats.

Throw away candy with torn wrappers, tiny holes, discoloration or other signs of tampering. Check ingredient labels carefully if a child has food allergies, and remove gum, peanuts, hard candy and small toys from the bags of very young children.

Fun ideas for families

Before heading outside, have children complete a full-costume test walk. Make sure they can walk, sit, climb stairs and see clearly.

Families can also plan their route together, decorate candy bags with reflective tape and create a candy swap for treats children cannot or do not want to eat.

Take a photo before leaving home. In addition to capturing the costume, it provides a current photo showing exactly what the child is wearing.

Consumers can research businesses at bbb.org and report suspected scams through BBB Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker.