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4 Terrifying Verification Checks for Halloween

Posted by Heather Brautman | Thu, Oct 31, 2013 @ 08:00 AM

ScaryPumpkin1We don’t mean to scare you but… wait, sure we do! It’s Halloween, so of course we want to scare you. Today, in honor of everything creepy and crawly, we want to do a little bit of “scared straight.” Sure, Halloween should be filled with fun, but don’t forget some of the important stuff. Before you hit the candy trail, make multiple checks on the following:

Light up the night: Unless you or your little ones are going out as ghosts, you may not think about going glowing. But even the most ghoulish, vampire-tastic, gothic creature should be easily seen. You’re going to be crossing streets, stalking down sidewalks, and passing through poorly lit areas. Add some visibility to your costume with a glow necklace, blinking bracelet, or a reflective vest. This is the night of the living dead, so stay alive.

Taste testing: Your kids may think it’s an excuse to raid their plastic pumpkins, but you need to do a bit of quality control over their candy haul. The warning of bad neighbors who insert things into candy bars may be a popular cautionary tale around Halloween time, but there’s nothing wrong with doing an inspection. Toss anything unwrapped or “homemade” unless you know exactly who it’s from. If you see something partially unwrapped, taped up, or packaging that just gives you pause, toss it too. That fun size Snickers is not worth the potential heartache.

Stay visible: Ahhhh, apartment complexes. A large concentration of doors dispensing treats in a small area. It would save you and your kids a lot of walking time if you just dropped them at the front of one of these big housing structures and let ‘em go wild. But don’t let the holiday cloud your mind. Would you let your kids go traipsing around a building without being able to see them, on any other day? If you’re going trick or treating in a complex with “inner doors” (the ones where you can’t see from the outside or with hidden hallways), go with the kids. Maintain a line of eyesight to them at all times.

Figure the fear factor: Haunted houses, terrifying masks, scary movies, bloody accessories, drop-dead decorations. Halloween’s got them all. But keep an eye on your kids (and anyone else you're reveling with) to gauge their fear factor. Not everyone likes to be scared. Being chased by a chainsaw wielding “maniac” isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Going to a haunted house? Ask around (or check a website) about the scare level. You don’t want to ruin an evening because your child is catatonic.

What else is scary? Identity theft! That’s a whole other kind of costume, and it happens way more often than just on Halloween, and there's a lot more at stake to lose than a couple of candy bars. Come and knock on our door for a treat – no tricks, we promise – this free download. It’s not covered in chocolate or sugar, but we think you’ll find it a sweet deal:

 

17 Tips to Protect Your Identity Guide

 

Written by Heather Brautman