Security experts are warning users and administrators to be wary of unsolicited email messages in the days leading up to Halloween.

Sunbelt Software said that a number of common scams and malware attacks are expected to once again menace users on or before 31 October.

Typical scams include online greetings cards, or links to holiday sites such as the 'dancing skeleton' attack. The messages often contain a Trojan attachment or a link to a malicious page disguised as a greetings card or video file.

Malware writers are also believed to be crafting fake retail advertisements. The messages purport to be from a retailer and promise a special sale. However, clicking on the links within the message can redirect the user to an attack page.

Sunbelt Software suggested that users approach unsolicited or suspicious emails with caution and use best practices for security.

"We advise users to be vigilant and to ensure that anti-virus applications are fully up to date with the latest definition files and the latest application version installed," Sunbelt European sales manager Muktadit Khan said in a blog post.

"Users should avoid opening any attachments, even from trusted sources, without first running a scan on the file."

The attacks follow what has become a favourite social engineering tactic among malware writers. Attacks in recent years have sought to increase the appeal to users by playing on current events and holidays.