Mary Jackson of Oak Harbor says her family's nightmare started with a simple song and has ballooned into an international fraud investigation. Mary contacted us in hopes of warning others to think twice before downloading free music, movies or other material on the Internet.

"My cell phone was shut off, and no incoming calls," Mary explained, recounting the trauma that started after Christmas. She figured it was just a mistake made by the phone company.

She was way off.

"They told me there was an order to stop incoming calls, and also there was an order for a $500 phone to be sent to Deerfield Beach, Florida," she said.

Mary and her husband have since amassed a growing file of fraud from across the country: retail purchases, credit cards ordered in other states in their kids' names.

The common link? Detectives say it's music sharing on their computer through using a free file-sharing program called LimeWire. It's extremely popular with kids their son Andrew's age.

"I actually found out about it from a friend and he told me it was pretty nice, and fun," said 15-year-old Andrew.

Fun, unless you click on the wrong file in that shared folder. Because malicious hackers are sharing files laced with hidden codes.

Download the file a hacker wants to share and you not only get the free music you want, but you unleash a command that sends the hacker information you think is protected.

Instead of only getting files in your shared folder the hacker can get into your banking folder, your bill folder, and other private documents in your computer.

With Mary's information, crooks ordered cell phones in Colorado and Florida, at least two computers, including one sent to Virginia, money transfers in Missouri and Nevada, and a bank account in Texas.

And that's just in the United States, so far. The thieves also set up gambling accounts in the UK and Costa Rica and a bill paying account in Germany.

"Tens of thousands of dollars at least at this point," said Island County Detective Ed Wallace. "Normally, what happens is the information is taken, and then either posted, distributed somehow through email, to other people who use it."

Police arrested two teens in Florida: 14- and 16-year-old boys who confess to some of the fraud in a taped interview. One of the boys even acknowledges using LimeWire to get Mary's information.

"The problem with these are, once it starts, it's like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose," Wallace said.

The Jacksons, meanwhile, have all but stopped using their computer for personal business. No more online banking or bill paying and no more downloading music unless it's on tried-and-true iTunes which they pay for and trust.

LimeWire is only one of several popular file-sharing programs you should be aware of, especially if kids use your computer.

But it's important to point out that not all file-sharing is risky. You just have to be able to spot the executable files that have the potential to carry viruses or destructive programs known as "trojan horses."

LimeWire even states the need to be very careful accessing file-sharing programs. The company warns about the security risks on its website and even includes a link to an FTC warning.

Sheriff's deputies in Broward County Florida say the two teens arrested in the Jackson case have been charged with identity theft, which is a felony in that state.

The Island County Sheriff's Department says they may never know how many other suspects are involved.

People who use free file-sharing programs should also be mindful that this is tax season. Downloading a bad shared file carries an even bigger risk if you file your taxes online.

For More Information:

P2P File-Sharing: Evaluate the Risks

File Sharers, Beware

Limewire Warning

P2P Scams

The Dangers of Peer-to-Peer Systems