That Halloween mask ad looks too real — how do you spot the costume and fright-night scams before you pay?

Safety experts are warning about a surge in Halloween shopping scams: AI-polished social media ads selling so-called hyper-realistic silicone masks for as little as £30 when the real thing costs hundreds of pounds, plus fake Fright Nights and haunted events that vanish after taking payment. Six checks to run before you pay.

Late at night, a video stops your thumb mid-scroll: someone pulls on a mask and turns into a movie monster for only about $30, and with Halloween four days away you almost tap Buy. Short answer: be very careful — safety experts warn of a surge in Halloween shopping scams this year, from costume ads to fake seasonal events. Why it matters: Get Safe Online, working with Ask Silver, reports social media ads for so-called hyper-realistic silicone masks promising to turn you into a celebrity or movie monster for as little as £30 — while a genuine one of that quality typically costs hundreds of pounds.

Many of those videos appear to have been created or enhanced with AI, making the product look far better than it ever could in person. Buyer reviews tell the rest: some got flimsy plastic masks nothing like the ad, others got nothing at all — and the same trick is used on other costume items.1. Compare the price with the real thing.

If a mask that normally costs hundreds is suddenly £30, that gap is the warning sign.2. Check the seller away from social media. Look for a real address, a working phone number, and reviews on independent sites — not just comments under the ad.3.

Be suspicious of perfect videos and pressure. Flawless AI-style morph videos, countdown timers, and “only three left” claims exist to hurry you past your good sense.4. Buy event tickets from the venue itself.

For Fright Nights and haunted attractions, buy only from the venue’s own official site or box office, and call the venue if unsure — scammers invent events that do not exist, then vanish with the payments.5. Pay by credit card. A credit card lets you dispute the charge if nothing arrives.

Never pay by gift card, crypto, or wire transfer.6. Skip last-minute pre-orders from unknown shops. This close to Halloween, an unfamiliar site promising delivery in days is a gamble, not a plan.Pro tip: if a deal only lives inside a social media ad and the shop lists no real contact details, walk away — a cheap mask that never arrives is not cheap.Ad’s take: Halloween should be the fun kind of scary, not the “where did my money go” kind.

Two minutes of checking saves your money and your night.