As we approach Halloween, it's important to remember how difficult it is to scare people when they've prepared themselves to be frightened.

However, during the rest of the year, it isn't particularly hard to dish out a scream-inducing, knee-buckling fright to a friend or family member

You don't even need a scary mask to do it, although it helps. What you do need is a somewhat-compromised conscience and, preferably, a video camera.

Read on to see five easy how-to scare-prank ideas from Break Media. (Video contains some cursing.)