Barb, You own those letters that were sent to you. I sure wouldn't be afraid of giving the "researcher's" name out to anyone who might email you privately. I am always very sorry to hear about this type of thing. Elaine bthomas wrote: > I had a negative experience VERY RECENTLY. Names are omitted here. Has > this happened to anyone? Is this a scam? > > A person found my query in a genweb page, and emailed me and said (quote) > "Have info on this family" > "Contact this person" (and included a name and address of another party) > > I wrote to this person, excited that this person had info on my family name > and I asked graciously for copies of any info on this name that she had and > I stated that I would be happy to pay for postage and copies. > > A package came for me, with a bill for RESEARCH FEES, copies (at 25 cents > each) and postage. > I was shocked. I did NOT pay the bill and then this person sent me another > letter, implying that this is her/his retirement income and NO ONE had ever > refused to pay before because they were so delighted with the info sent. > HE/SHE said DONT BE THE FIRST! It was a very intimidating letter, by > design. I replied with a check for postage and copies ONLY, quoting from > my original letter. I again stated that I never ordered or agreed to pay > for research fees. > > This person AGAIN wrote back, with a letter accusing me of many things, > including having a bad hair day or bad PMS, etc. It went on and on about > wasting gas, trip to the courthouse, etc, etc. I had no problem throwing > away the letter, but it was AGAIN, trying to intimidate me into paying for > research not ordered. > > Anyone had this experience? Although I consider it over and will throw away > (unopened) any additional correspondence, it angers me that probably > someone else might have given in to the intimidation and paid this person > anyway. It probably worked before. > BEWARE! > > Barb Thomas > bthomas@wport.com >