This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3AB.2ACI/6890 Message Board Post: Cousins; many of you remember why I was given this Harlan, Ky board, mailing list and website back in 1999. So many of our members including myself were scammed out of money for genealogy materials, the checks were cashed, e-mails were never answered and no genealogy material was sent from this person to many of our members. This had gone on for years. Finally someone complained and it mushroomed into a large amount of money.We filed complaints with the Postal Authorties, Internet Fraud Dept and Rootsweb. So Darlene if u are a victim, complain, put their name out so others don't get scammed. Notify the postal authorties if they used the United States mail, notify the Internet Fraud Dept. When some post here selling something it is deleted immediately by Ancestry or by me. Then I get nasty letters, from these people or they post angry replys to this board. Some write private e-mails to our members asking for family data. I would stongly advise, don't order, don't give your family data to people that don't contribute to this board, or list. Beware of PO addresses, ask for thier phone number and call before you order. If they have a website, get what conditions they are posting your data under. What is their copyright notice, is it posted in plain view for you to read. Without a copyright notice, you may be giveing them permission to sell your family data. It pays to ask questions. Genealogy is a big business and your family data can wind up on a CD as it did a few years ago. I am very protective of this board, list and our website, I will go that extra mile to ensure free genealogy for each and every one of us. Researching Nolan, Brewer, Boggs, Bailey, Elva Nolan Morgan

Elva, What you said is 100% true!! I, too, have found my info on other's information, being sold on companies CDs, etc. I'll gladly share what I have with others. I've gotten so much from other people's efforts that I try to do all I can to repay their generosity. Unfortunately there are bad people who love to rip people off. One other word of caution I might add is that if anyone shares their Gedcoms be sure to 'privatize' it before sharing unless you know the individual personally. Otherwise one day you'll find all your info on someone's website or CD. (I mean things like birth and marriage dates, parent's birth and marriage dates, etc.) That info can give someone enough information to help them steal your identity. Take care, Phyllis -----Original Message----- From: kiezza@AOL.COM [mailto:kiezza@AOL.COM] Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 7:26 PM To: KYHARLAN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: What to do about genealogy ripoffs This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3AB.2ACI/6890 Message Board Post: Cousins; many of you remember why I was given this Harlan, Ky board, mailing list and website back in 1999. So many of our members including myself were scammed out of money for genealogy materials, the checks were cashed, e-mails were never answered and no genealogy material was sent from this person to many of our members. This had gone on for years. Finally someone complained and it mushroomed into a large amount of money.We filed complaints with the Postal Authorties, Internet Fraud Dept and Rootsweb. So Darlene if u are a victim, complain, put their name out so others don't get scammed. Notify the postal authorties if they used the United States mail, notify the Internet Fraud Dept. When some post here selling something it is deleted immediately by Ancestry or by me. Then I get nasty letters, from these people or they post angry replys to this board. Some write private e-mails to our members asking for family data. I would stongly advise, don't order, don't give your family data to people that don't contribute to this board, or list. Beware of PO addresses, ask for thier phone number and call before you order. If they have a website, get what conditions they are posting your data under. What is their copyright notice, is it posted in plain view for you to read. Without a copyright notice, you may be giveing them permission to sell your family data. It pays to ask questions. Genealogy is a big business and your family data can wind up on a CD as it did a few years ago. I am very protective of this board, list and our website, I will go that extra mile to ensure free genealogy for each and every one of us. Researching Nolan, Brewer, Boggs, Bailey, Elva Nolan Morgan ______________________________