If you open a credit account, ask that a password be used before any inquiries or changes can be made on account. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, last four digits of your SSN or your phone number - same holds true for pin numbers.

While there is not a whole lot you can do to prevent this, there are things you can do, to protect your credit if it does happen.

Contact fraud departments of each of three major credit bureaus. (Equifax - www.equifax.com - Experian - www.experian.com and Trans Union - www.tuc.com) All of them offer advice on what to do if there has been fraud committed. Tell them to flag your file with a fraud alert, including a statement that creditors should get your permission before opening any new accounts in your name.

If you discover that an identity thief has changed billing address on an existing credit card account, immediately close account, and request credit bureaus for copies of your credit reports. Credit bureaus must give you a free copy of your report if it is inaccurate because of fraud.

Regardless of how thieves got, or used information, report it to police department. That way, if there is a question down line, there will be an official report available.

Identity theft is a serious problem. If you feel that this has happened, immediately take steps outlined above. When someone appropriates your personal information without your knowledge, it's a crime, pure and simple.

While it may cause you problems when trying to straighten out mess, hopefully it will cause perpetrators even bigger problems. Those two Memphis men face millions of dollars in fines and several decades worth of prison time.

With exception of a naïve minority, people are "savvy" enough to avoid majority of these scams. So, if you want to get into business on Net, use some common sense and do some "due diligence" investigation before jumping in with both feet .

Do some people make money on Net? Sure - but guess what? They work for it. Some may tell you that JOB is a dirty word and stands for "Just Over Broke". Working for yourself is hard work if you want to succeed. You must run your "Home Business" with same discipline you would use in any other.

You must advertise, advertise, advertise - if people don't know you're there, how do you expect them to find you to do business? Be prepared to work 60 to 70 hours a week or more if it is a full time venture.

But how about those who need financial security of their job, while trying to develop their online business - can they hope to succeed? Yes! But they have to put in their effort in evenings and on weekends. They have to approach it with same attitude as someone doing it full time.

There are a lot of good opportunities "just ripe for picking" out there. If you avoid obvious scams, and do some "due diligence" investigation, you will find one. If first few don't work for you, don't lose heart. Be sure you give it enough time and effort before giving up. If you are sure it won't, "cut your losses" and move on to something else. It may take some time to find a "fit", but when you do, it will be worth your time and effort.