People pull scare pranks because the victim’s reaction is usually hilarious. Scare prank videos are commonly popular among young, internet-savvy users. Usually the prank victim will either cry, get angry or be relieved that it was just a joke. Scare pranks are are almost always carried out by friends perpetrating their trickery on unsuspecting friends (such as two of the featured videos below), but they are occasionally played on unsuspecting strangers to varying degrees of success.

1. No mercy. Once you decide to prank someone, there’s no backing down.
2. Poker face. You have to keep a straight face; otherwise your prank victim will know something is going on.
3. Premeditation. Scare pranking requires some planning ahead, and of course planting a camera in the room.
4. You might be a jerk.You’re probably someone who does not feel bad making someone cry or scaring the bejesus out of them.

It takes a certain type of humor to enjoy scare pranks; not everyone finds them funny, especially the victims. But if you absolutely have to pull one, try the old jumping out of the fridge prank, the fake spider in the shower prank, or maybe even the axe murderer hiding behind the door prank. It’s all in good fun.