But what about newest craze, coaching? Exactly what are coaches and what is coaching? Here are some definitions garnered from professional coaches.

Coaching is one-one-one guidance and extended support for personal and professional growth and change. -Laura Berman Fortgang http://www.intercoach.com

Coaching is not to be confused with consulting, psychotherapy, training, teaching or mentoring. It is completely unique. The primary role of today's professionally trained coach is to help someone clarify his (her) business and personal goals, help him craft an action plan that helps move him into action and then holds him accountable each step of way without pressuring or judging him. - Hilton Johnson http://www.coachtrainer.com

Life Coaching is about a trusting, confidential and supportive relationship that you direct. And working together week-to-week with your Life Coach will help you move forward far faster, and go far further, than you might now imagine. It is also very convenient and affordable. -Steve Mitten http://www.acoach4u.com/

Coaching is about client, not coach. So don't confuse coaching with training. Training implies teaching something you know to another, whereas couching discovers and enhances an already existing skill and helps people find and reach their goals.

Do you need a sponsor, mentor or coach? Do you want to be a sponsor, mentor or coach? In either case, coaching just might be a good place to start.

A good sponsor will ask you to list your short term and long term goals as first step in your training; a good coach will help you discover them. And a mentor? With a good coach, you won't need one. You'll be your own wise advisor.

Your absolute best bet is to pay for online purchases with a credit card. If company does not deliver, you can dispute payment and have charge reversed. If a company does not accept credit cards, but did in past, it is almost always an indication that victims are beginning to charge back their program membership, and "product" purchases on their credit cards. This is a major danger sign as very likely they have lost their vendor status with credit card companies, due to volume of their charge backs.

If seller won't, or like a private individual, can't accept credit cards, consider using an escrow service. Escrow services are another good payment option. For a small fee, an escrow service holds buyer's payment and forwards it to seller upon buyer's receipt and approval of item within an agreed upon inspection period. For buyers, escrow services can help ensure that they get what they pay for.

Sellers may find escrow services less expensive than participating in credit card payment system, especially if buyer pays fee, and they avoid problems of bad checks or stolen credit cards. If you use one, ensure that service is licensed and bonded, and how you can confirm that with appropriate agency. If you have been defrauded, contact National Fraud Information Center at 1-800-876-7060 - http://www.fraud.org/

Online Auctions topped complaint list of frauds reported last year with 63% of all frauds reported coming from that quarter with an average loss of $487 per person. Web sites are still most common way that consumers are solicited for fraudulent Internet offers, but statistics reveal an increase in number of initial contacts made by con artists using email.

There a lot of people trying disguise that "sows ear" to look like a "silk purse", but if you use common sense, you can recognize it for what it is.