Page 10 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 17, 2025 BBB Scam Alert: Beware of Halloween costume “deals” that are all tricks, no treats I f you see an ad for extremely discounted Halloween costumes, beware! The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker has received a few reports of phony websites offering deals that are too good to be true or fake coupons sent via email. Here’s how to spot these impostor sites and avoid being tricked. What you’ll learn • How impostor Halloween costume websites trick shoppers with fake ads, coupons and extreme discounts • Warning signs to look for when shopping online for costumes and decorations • Practical tips to protect your money and personal information from holiday scams How the scam works You see an ad online or receive an email for Halloween costumes with shockingly low prices — claims like “overstock clearance,” “90% off ” or “reduced prices.” It looks like a great deal, especially with Halloween right around the corner. But before you click “buy,” take a closer look. BBB Scam Tracker has received reports of fake websites tricking consumers into purchasing costumes that don’t actually exist. One consumer shared, “fake website- attempted to buy a Halloween costume- took my payment and all my contact information including my mailing address. The payment part of the site just spun. I knew they just took all my info and then a For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net at day later I had two charges on my credit card that were fraud.” Other consumers reported clicking on social media ads promising great deals on costumes and decorations only to find out that they’ve shared their credit card information on phony websites and purchased items that they will never receive. One consumer shared this experience on BBB Scam Tracker: “Sent email stating 90% coupon off all [company name redacted] items. Clicked on it and ordered items. Next day my bank said fraud alert. I called and denied all actions and cancelled card.” If you’re tempted by these “too good to be true” deals, keep these tips in mind before making a purchase. VIOLENT THREAT | FROM PAGE 1 keeping our schools safe. As parents ourselves we understand the trust families place in us when they send their children to school each day. When safety is threatened, our police offi cers take swift action to protect students, staff and families. We will continue to do everything within our power to protect the people of Everett and ensure schools remain safe for learning.” Following fingerprinting, the juvenile was taken into custody by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency based on a match in their database. “There are two separate issues at play in this situation: safety and immigration,” DeMaria explained. “Everett and the Everett Police are responsible only for public safety, and we take that responsibility very seriously. Everett Police do not make arrests based on immigration status. Once an arrest is made, the police follow the standard booking process required by law. The police didn’t contact ICE about the arrest, but ICE acts independently and has authority to access certain daTips to avoid Halloween-related scams • Research before you buy. Search online for terms like “scam” or “complaint” or look up the company’s name on BBB.org to see if others have reported issues. • Check for contact information. Legitimate retailers generally provide a physical address and customer service phone number. Be cautious if a website only has an email form. • Try a fake website checker. Website checkers, such as Google’s Safe Browsing tool, can also help you decide whether a website is safe to visit. • Avoid deals that seem too tabases and take action of their own accord. When an individual is taken into custody by ICE, Everett has no control over what happens next.” Answering questions, he said he knows many people are scared of ICE. “We have people who are undocumented immigrants and they are scared,” he acknowledged. “We try to advise them to continue to live their lives. Cities like Everett thrive on immigration. Hopefully, people in Washington can get together and get it done.” He and Strong also reported that the juvenile’s mother was present during processing, although no information about where the juvenile arrested or the juvenile subjected to the threat attend school was offered. ICE operates independently of the City of Everett and good to be true. Extreme discounts on trending costumes can be a red flag. Check prices from reputable retailers to confirm. • Use secure payment methods. Credit cards and other secure payment methods offer fraud protection. Avoid direct bank transfers or unusual payment options. • Trust fraud alerts from your bank. If your bank flags a purchase, contact them immediately to review your options. For more information Learn how to celebrate Halloween on a budget: https://www.bbb.org/article/ news-releases/14243-bbb-offers-tips-to-celebrate-halloween. the Everett Police Department, with its own access to certain law enforcement databases and the authority to act on its own accord. Once an individual is taken into ICE custody, the City of Everett and its Police Department have no control over subsequent actions. “I believe ICE should have better-equipped juvenile facilities that allow minors to remain close to their families and legal counsel as they move through due process,” said the Mayor. “At the end of the day, our message is simple: Safety comes first,” the Mayor concluded. “We will continue to do everything in our power to protect the people of Everett, especially our children, and to ensure that our schools remain safe places for learning and growth.” LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER FACEBOOK.COM/ ADVOCATE.NEWS.MA
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