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New Social Experiment Video Warns Of Dangers Of Trick-Or-Treating

YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A new viral video aims to demonstrate that trick-or-treaters might be targeted by real-life monsters this Halloween.

As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, the social experiment by professional prankster Coby Persin of Clifton, New Jersey uses Brooklyn mothers and their children to expose just how vulnerable boys and girls can be – no matter how many times they are warned to be careful.

Persin set up the experiment with parental permission.

The Dangers Of Trick Or Treating! by Coby Persin on YouTube

Three children are dropped off together at a house, where Persin – dressed wearing glasses and office clothes -- tells them in a flat, monotone voice to come inside while he gets candy downstairs and "don't move or anything."

Persin in character then blocks the door and says there is no candy. When one of the children asks, "What do you mean there's no candy?" there is a knock at the door.

"What do you mean there's no candy?" Persin says in character. "There's nothing. But imagine how scary this is, and look what's about to happen."

Two mothers then open the door and enter the house.

"What were you thinking? What if we didn't come for you?" one of them asks. "You just come into this house? You don't even know these people!"

"We tested you, and you failed the test," the other mother says.

In a second setup, three children come to the same house, and this time, Persin in character tells them they "actually have candy downstairs." All three of them come inside as Persin in character asks them if they want Snickers, and down to the basement they go.

"Where's the candy?" one of the children asks in the basement.

"There is no candy. There's no candy at all," Persin in character says as the lights go down. "You guys are here now." Someone in a scary mask opens the door as the children run screaming.

Soon afterward, the mother confronts them in the house.

"What were you thinking? He would bring you into the basement to give you a piece of candy? You could have been killed!" the mother says. "There's a bunch of crazy people out there."

Psychologist Dr. Harris Straytner said "Halloween safety is vital." But he thinks the children who were tested in the video were likely traumatized.

Still, while he does not approve of all the methods used to get the video, he does like its message.

"I think you could use it as a jumping off point," he said. "You need to sit down with your kids and talk to them."

Persin said the lesson is, "Everyone's a good guy in these kids eyes, but that's not how it really is in real life -- not everyone's a good person."

Experts advised that trick-or-treaters need adult supervision, and the hard-and-fast rule is never to go inside.

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