(KAIR)--Holiday scams are not uncommon, but you don't have to fall victim to one of the many scams that seem to pop up every year during this time. The Better Business Bureau has provided several tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.

BBB Spokeswoman Denise Groene says the most important thing you can do is to simply do some research. Make sure you take some time to find out about a business before you conduct any kind of transaction with them. She adds that “A lot of scammers use high pressure tactics to get you to act fast. So in whatever scam you may be dealing with, they do not want to give you the time to do your homework. So really, you just need to know who you are doing business with. Make sure they are reputable, and when in doubt, call the Better Business Bureau”.

Groene also warns to take the proper precautions when dealing with posts on social media sites. She says that “A lot of times, it may look like it was posted by a friend, a family member, or someone you know, and it is basically trying to entice you to click on the links. So if it sounds like something your friend or family member wouldn't be posting, don't click on those links. A lot of them will send you to a third party website where it could download malware and viruses onto your computer”.

If you would like to donate to a charity during the holidays, Groene suggests that you should make sure that it is a legitimate organization and one that you can trust. You can access free reports from the BBB by going to give.org.