More spending, more donations, more travel and more distractions — there's no time like the holidays for fraud.

"Scammers are opportunists and, unfortunately, at the holidays we give them plenty of opportunities," said Katherine Hutt, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau. She says the most important thing people can do is be aware of possible scams and to be extra cautious at this time of year.

Here are a few common types of holiday frauds and tips on how to avoid them:

WHEN SHOPPING

Online shopping is convenient and popular — for shoppers and scammers alike.

The most common ways crimi...