Buying or renting a Halloween costume this season? You’re not alone.

According to the National Retail Federation, a 171 million Americans will spend close to $8.4 billion on candy, pumpkins, decorations and costumes. Most shoppers (67%) will spend their budget on costumes and candy.  It’s a holiday we love, and retailers respond to that with specialty stores that set up shop in October and are gone the minute Halloween is over.

When shopping at seasonal, temporary Halloween stores, and especially last-minute, it’s important to exercise caution. The BBB® is advising shoppers to know the red flags and read the fine print to avoid fly-by-night costume venders. Even if the store has a returns policy, you should go in with the assumption that whatever you buy is yours to keep, no matter what.

Click here for some BBB tips to make sure don’t get tricked buying your Halloween treats.

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