- Check website registration. http://www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois Do this with all domains you are interested in buying from. Of course, they need their OWN domain for this to work.

- Verify names, addresses and phone numbers. http://www.infospace.com/ Not everyone comes up in these directories, but it only takes a few seconds and can make you feel more sure.

- Look for a membership to an association for protecting consumers. http://www.scaminator.com/cobra/directory.htm There are solid guidelines that members must follow. Remember: Also look for their listing in association's directory. That way you know they haven't just stolen a graphic and are pretending to be a member.

- Stay up-to-date about circulating scams. http://www.scaminator.com http://www.scamwatch.com/scams/sacm001.html There are many other places to read about scams. Look around, you might save yourself a lot of problems.

Other things you should do:

- Contact actual people of any testimonies that are given. This can shed a lot of light on business in question.

- Check out company at your local Better Business Bureau and Attorney Generals office in your area.

- Make sure all phone numbers to company are working numbers. Call them or check with local phone companies and directories to see who phone number is listed to.

- Look for a street address for sending payments. Never send to a PO Box. If they refuse to give street address to you, that is a good indication that there is something not quite right.

These are just a few things you need to get in a habit of doing. Even if it seems like a huge pain, it is best action to take for yourself. No one else will be looking out for you. Your Caution is Required.

Still, I bet you can list off at least ten people you know who would never, ever pop up in an instant message to say "Hi". But those people will, one day, and probably very soon.

My Grandparents are that way. I am amazed that they got a cell phone, because they don't even have call waiting on their home phone. I personally can't stand thought of not being able to get through when someone is on phone. Call waiting is a must for me. So I can never imagine them operating a computer and I can never imagine them sending email. Something that is first thing I do in morning and last thing I do at night. And they have never sent one, never received one, and have no intention of doing so in near future. They have seen so much of technology become reality. Their resistance is very strong, but I know day will come. I have a friend like that to. She had a old computer given to her. She doesn't realize how much easier using computer would be if she got a newer one. Now, she has signed up with an ISP and pays less then $5 a month, which means she can only be online a total of five hours a month! I could use that up in my sleep!

How can they stand not giving in to what is now norm?? While internet isn't always what it is cracked up to be, today you just can not do without it. It is extremely useful and valuable to most people. Many are building their entire lives online.

The Proof Is In The Pudding --------------------------------------- You can chat, complain, listen to radio, read newspaper, shop, pay bills, participate in auctions, fall in love, make friends, make a living, make trouble, explore new worlds, translate other languages, teach your children, find old friends, send greeting cards, send instant messages, send email, get junk mail, file taxes, save money, invest, get ripped-off, get inspired, get support, get advice, get viruses, get mad, be entertained, become isolated, become a pest, become enlightened... all online.

This is not going to change. This is what makes up our world. We will only find more and more ways to lead a completely virtual life. Basically, when you get right down to it, Resistance is Futile.