FYI...thanks Steve....Char ----- Original Message ----- Subject: DCO- Newbies-beware This is for the newbies and was sent to me from another list. Everyone beware of the scams.I know this is long, but worth it if it will save you money. Gloria THE UPDATE FIRST I'll begin here so those of you who already know about Family Discovery (and their sister site, GenSeekers) can be on your merry way .... A new letter from them is circulating now... one that promotes a service that sounds like something that as a genealogist, you're really afraid to pass up (those records... all those records!). The newest message will probably have a subject line of "Thanks for your help Genealogist..." Are you concerned that you'll be missing out by not signing up with Family Discovery? Would you like to know what you're missing if you don't get in on the "special offer"? Click on this link <http://www.familydiscovery.com/members/>. It will take you directly inside their site where you can walk around and have a really good look. Once done, please spread the word. Don't let other cousins, friends and newbies get suckered by these scam artists. I also want to let you know that Gene Olson has done some research and found the following current list of sites related to Family Discovery in one way or another: genealogyfinders.com genealogyfinders.net aboent.com familydiscovery.com genseeker.com genealogy-express.com If these sites are anything like Family Discovery, hide your wallet, checkbook, credit card, and run! :) He has now set up a message board on his site for discussion of Family Discovery and her sister sites. Want to find out more or comment about the subject?... head for Gene's Anti Family Discovery site at <http://www.compuright.net/familydiscovery/>. FOR THE NEWEST COUSINS Okay, so I did this backwards, the newest news first. However, please know that the subject of Family Discovery is NOT new. To save time, this is a copy and paste from the main portion of my message to everyone on January 19th. It lays out the whole story. I post it here again just for you newest cousins... Family Discovery is just what I said in the last sentence... rip-offs. This is becoming an old subject among those of us who have been doing online genealogy for a while, but you need to be made aware... Family Discovery links their pages to Rootsweb sites and archive pages, GenWeb sites, and privately owned sites ... sites on which all the information is already FREE! They are doing this without permission and are currently under investigation. Please, heed the warning. A new ad from them is going around telling you that if you'll join by Friday, 2 Feb, you'll pay "a one time access fee of ONLY $49.00 with absolutely nothing to pay EVER again..." While I'm at it, I'd better warn you of their newest, sister site... GenSeeker, in case another message is floating around that I'm not aware of yet. Though I haven't heard any more about it from anyone (yet), it's still a site owned by the same person(s) and building itself under the same premise as Family Discovery. I've been to their newest site and seen what they're up to. Instead of the "special rate" you're charged $20 more. However, when clicking on their "freesearch link," the unwary customer is taken to the familydiscovery.com site. GenSeeker describes itself as "the most comprehensive easy to use collection of online records ever compiled." Of course it is, if they link to every free website they can find! Save your money and do the search yourself! You DO NOT need to pay for a service that is already free if you know where to look. If you need assistance, send a message to the list and state in the top line of your message that you're a newbie needing help; you'll probably get more than you can handle! :) Gene Olson has an Anti-FamilyDiscovery.com update list from his website. He has been working to close down both sites and is still on their trail. You newbies to online genealogy would be wise to go to his site and read up on this company so you won't be ripped off. Click on the following link and you'll be taken directly to his site: <http://www.compuright.net/familydiscovery>. Gene's new email address is <gene_olson@bigfoot.com>. His toll-free number is 1-877-319-9699. I tried to access familydiscovery.com just a moment ago. It seems the entire site is now password protected. Hmmm... I wonder why...<br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p>