Network Solutions Whois Site http://www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois and enter URL. You should in most cases be able to determine who registered domain name, where they are located, a telephone number and/or email address. This will be under Administrative contact section. You can also determine who hosts site.

If URL ends in one of new domain types i.e., .tv, .ta, or .de for example I generally use register.com site since it has info on these type domains: Register.com http://www.register.com

There are a couple of discussion boards that may have information that may help you. They are:

Victims Against Scams http://pub31.ezboard.com/bvictimsagainstscams

Friends In Business (Scams 101) http://friendsinbusiness.com/board/index.cgi?

iCop! Discussion Forum (International Council of Online Professionals) http://pluto.beseen.com/boardroom/h/50220/

The Home Business & Marketing Discussion Board http://www.homebizlink.com/wwwboard

A couple of sites that you may want to also check are:

The Consumer Sentinel http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel/

Internet ScamBusters http://www.scambusters.org

The Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov

One other resource is good old online telephone books. If you have an address or telephone number go to www.yellowpages.com or www.whitepages.com and check them out. You can use telephone number and do a "reverse directory check" which checks telephone number and gives you a name and address. You can also check out address that you have and sometimes may be able to tell if address is a valid business office or a mail drop by making a couple of telephone calls.

If you are getting ready to spend some of your hard earned money by joining a money making opportunity whether it is a one time cost or a monthly cost, make sure that you check it out. First you want to reassure yourself that it is legit and secondly if you are going to promote it, you want to make sure you have confidence in it since you are going to risk your reputation by recommending it to others.

THE OVERHYPED Be leery if there is a strict time limit for investing in a business opportunity. Scammers know that faster you act, less you think (and research). And if this is a fly-by-night company, these time limits provide a better opportunity to take money and run.

Also, don't get too excited about deep discounts on starting costs. More costs may come later. And keep in mind that, in many states, government does not regulate business opportunities with investments of less than $500. Some of worst scams may fall into this category.

RESEARCH Use your knowledge of internet to avoid being scammed. Check for listings with National Fraud Information Center (http://www.fraud.org/) as well as Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org)

You can also conduct a search for business opportunities on Google Groups (http://www.groups.google.com) Here you'll find an archive of newsgroup postings. If someone has been scammed, chances are they'll want to warn others.

IF YOU DECIDE TO SIGN... Get everything in writing, including business expenses-- from fees to equipment to supplies. Will company refund any of your initial investment if you change your mind? Keep detailed records.

Some online opportunities are lucrative and legitimate, and--armed with a few online resources--it's never been easier to sort good from bad.

When it comes to working from home, "when there's a will, there's a way." Now it's up to you to find way that best suits you and your lifestyle.