Halloween season brings a lot of fun treats — including those favorite candy bars from your childhood!

Unfortunately, there are also some scary scammers around who are happy to spook you and grab their own treats from your bank account before the holiday season starts. Some of these scammers are so smart that it's actually scary.

Here are a few ways to thwart those scammers and keep your money safe this season:

The Scam Scam — Double trouble with this one! Sometimes, a scammer will call you to tell you that your account was hacked, but it really wasn't. The scammer is just trying to get information from you so they can hack into your account later on. If you get a call from your bank or a company like Amazon or Temu, go ahead and tell them you'll call them back. Then, contact the company only through their official channels, not with a phone number the scammer tells you to call.

Zombie Accounts — If a family member or loved one passes away, sometimes scammers will try to get part of their estate. In the deceased identity theft scam, scammers steal the identity of someone who is no longer living and try to empty bank accounts and use their credit history quickly, while no one is paying attention. Be sure that the estate's executor has locked down the deceased's social media, bank accounts and credit report as soon as possible, and keeps an eye on those accounts until the estate is fully settled.

Hitman — There’s a hitman at your door – and no, this is not a disguise! In the hitman scam, scammers pretend to be assassins hired to take out a target. They’ll send extortion emails and messages, promising to spare the target’s life for just a few thousand dollars. Or, you get a call saying a loved one has been kidnapped and will only be released safely if you send money. If you receive an extortion message, contact local law enforcement immediately. Never share money with an unverified contact.

The Fake Ticket Scam — Planning a trip to an amusement park or concert on Halloween? Be wary of the fake ticket scam, in which third-party vendors sell bogus tickets to unsuspecting customers right before an event. There’s no treat; it’s a trick. The tickets are not real. It’s best to get your Halloween tickets in advance through the venue itself. If you aren't sure, contact the event organizers directly to make sure you’ve reached the right address.

Here at CommonWealth One, we're all about the treats! And that includes giving you free information so you can treat yourself to the feeling of financial safety. Join us for our free webinar, "Protecting Yourself, Protect Your Accounts" on Wednesday, October 30 at noon to learn more ways to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft. We hope to see you then!

Learn More: Recognizing and Avoiding Scams