4 Common Genealogy
Scams:
1.Misleading software and services. Some genealogical
software products and online services can be misleading about what
they actually provide, such as compiled surname and family tree
data. In most cases this information is freely available on the
Internet. It could be argued that these products and services do
some of the work for you, but it's a good idea to check out free
sources including
Cyndi's List,
RootsWeb,
and
Eastman's Online
Genealogy Newsletter
before you
reach for a credit card.
2.The old phony inheritance ploy. This scam is designed to
separate would-be rightful heirs from their money through bogus
processing costs. Here's how it works: You are informed that
unclaimed inheritance connected to your family must be settled, and
details on how to claim the inheritance will be sent to you—after
you pay various service fees to the informer to handle the lost
estate, which never existed to begin with. The infamous Baker Hoax
is a classic example of this scam.
Learn more about other scams like this by reading
Don't
be fooled by that easy money e-mail hoax.
3. The complete family history of [your surname here]!
Perhaps you've seen one of these advertisements, offering a
one-of-a-kind book about your family history, sometimes going back
several centuries. In reality, these books are often mass-produced,
glorified phone directories that associate your surname with a list
of randomly selected names, accompanied by a brief generic history
unrelated to your actual family. Better bet: Stick to doing the
research yourself.
4.Bad genealogists. Although certifications are available
from private sources, genealogists are unregulated and do not
require an official license. Anyone can legally claim to be one.
Genealogical data is easy to fake, and con artists have taken
advantage of this. Those seeking a genealogist should rely on
verifiable references or a legitimate third party such as the
Association of Professional
Genealogists.
And, keep in mind the genealogist's maxim: without
proof, there is no truth.
Article: Smarter Genealogy
pub. Nov.2004 |