Listed below is an article submitted by another WAHM from a yahoo group. 

WAH Online Safety Tips

With all the crazy people in this world, it’s a good idea to think about safety while doing business online (or offline).

Here are a few tips to hopefully make life a bit easier and safer for us all while running our online (or offline) businesses.

1. Federal Tax ID Number (EIN)

Cost: FREE

How to get it: Call 1-800-829-4933

All you need is your basic information and about 10 min. of time. They issue your number right then and its effective as soon as you hang up.

Why: Getting your EIN is the easiest and most effective way to protect your social security number while conducting business. This also allows you to keep your personal and business financial information separate for tax and bookkeeping purposes.

2. Post Office Mail Box

Cost: Varies depending where you live

How to get it: Contact your local post office for information and an application.

Why: This allows you to have a valid mailing address without giving out your personal street address.

3. Private Phone Voicemail Service

Cost: FREE

How to get it: Visit www.privatephone.com

Why: This allows you to have a local business phone number for customers to call, thus you can keep your personal home phone or cell phone information private. This also allows you to record a professional business message for your customers.

When returning the call, do not call from your home phone. If the person has caller ID, they have your info. Either use a cell phone, or get a pre paid calling card.

4. Business Checking Account & PayPal Account

Cost:
Checking account: Varies from bank to bank.
Paypal: FREE

Why: This allows you to keep your personal and business financial information separate for tax and bookkeeping purposes. Since fraud is such an issue online, if one of your accounts (personal or business) is endangered, the other should be safe.

5. Be VERY CAREFUL about what information you give out. Do not give out personal info such as home address, phone number, family business etc. This is the information used to harm you. Do not tell people your family’s work schedule, what you do, when you are away, vacation plans and so on. On catalogs, fillers, business cards etc only put your business contact information, you never know where or w/ who these will end up.

Thank you to another WAHM for adding on these tips!!

6. Don't tell people you kids name, ages, where they go to school, what sports they play, what night the games are etc.
You have NO IDEA who is behind the screen and in our groups, except for the very close knit ones. You don't know someone's emotional state.

Never assume that it couldn't happen to you. Never assume that no one cares what you do or that they can’t' find you. The technology today has made it so easy to track someone.

7. Kids pictures on the internet- it's your choice, but consider who is going to see it? Do you have any sexual predators around you?

Remember that just because someone says they're a work at home mom, doesn't mean they are. Follow your gut instinct.
Single ladies-consider adding a partner to your business or a room mate.

8. Do a search for your phone number and see what it brings up. Teach your children not to give out your personal information.


More information provided on the subject:

Check out www.privatephone.com free voicemail that you can access online or by telephone. Gives you a different phone number to use and no personal information is needed.

We are sitting ducks for stalkers of all kinds and need to take a proactive stance against them. http://www.familywatchdog.us will show you a list of offenders near you.