I can not say if it is true or not, but discussions of the subject on some other lists have been very disruptive. Many people had opinions, others had questions, and others asked that the discussion be stopped or taken elsewhere. George At 10:03 PM 02/26/2000 -0700, K.Clopine-Seaman wrote: >Does anyone know how personal knowledge if this is true or not? >I sure would not want to get mixed up with some scam and my GEDCOM > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Mark Howells >> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2000 6:11 PM >> Subject: Re: FW: [Fwd: EGS - Warning about KindredKonnections] >> >Don't waste your time or money on KindredKonnections >> > > >> > >Hi all - >> > > >> > >Just a note that reputable genealogists don't touch >> > >KindredKonnections with a ten foot pole. >> > > >> > >I won't contribute any of the dozens of second-hand horror stories >> > >which have been shared with me about this commercial organization >> > >but I will relate my own personal experiences. >> > > >> > >1) KindredKonnections used the hard work of dozens of volunteer >> > >web masters in order to generate spam to Internet users with family >> > >history interests posted on the Web. They did this in direct >> > >violation of written "acceptable use" policies on these volunteer >> > >web sites. >> > > >> > >2) I received one of these spam e-mails and decided to investigate >> > >this outfit. I paid to access the data they were claiming that >> > >they had. I paid because I refuse to give my GEDCOM to those who >> > >state that they will sell it as KindredKonnections does. Paying >> > >the short term subscription cost me less than the use of my time to >> > >help them build up their databases by transcribing some online >> > records. >> > > >> > >3) I rapidly determined that they did not have the information >> > >which they claimed they had. I complained to the person who sent >> > >me the original spam. That person (Cindy Carmen at >> > >[email protected]) claimed to have no affiliation >> > >with KindredKonnections and was just "promoting" a service that she >> > >thought highly of. >> > > >> > >4) Clearly seeing that this was a shady deal, I brought it to the >> > >attention of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection >> > >(KindredKonnections is a Utah-based company). With the law looking >> > >at them, Cindy suddenly knew all about my account information at >> > >KindredKonnections. So she did work for KindredKonnections after >> > >all - what a surprise! My money was quickly refunded in order to >> > >keep me quiet so far as the Utah state regulators are concerned. >> > > >> > >To summarize: KindredKonnections has attempted to make money off >> > >of the hard work of volunteers on the Internet. They have use >> > >misleading spam to promote themselves. They have lied directly >> > to me. >> > > >> > >I now tell anyone who discusses KindredKonnections in a public >> > >forum that they are "bad news" and should be avoided like the >> > >plague. Please feel free to forward this message as you see >> > >appropriate. >> > > >> > >> >> Lately, I've been monitoring for KK advertisements using the >> RootsWeb PML service. I saw four go out last week from a KK >> Associate (they pay you to send traffic their way) and I replied >> with what you see here. >> >> They have a pretty web site and some useful free stuff (Cornwall >> 1871 census extract - but don't ask how they got it and you won't >> find any Crown copyright statement on it) but they treated me like >> trash and lied to my face. They used my volunteer time to make a >> profit and I am still hot about it. >> >> If you submit your GEDCOM to them, the fine print says they have >> the right to market it commercially. >> >> I have heard dozens of horror stories second hand about them. They >> take GEDCOMs placed online by others. They will not remove >> original research submitted by others who do not have a right to it >> (they offer free time instead). Rumor hath it that they are in >> receipt of stolen materials from the LDS church - which explains >> their huge database available almost overnight. These guys are bad >> news. >> >> They are probably the most talented of the "get-rich-quick" set >> that has joined our little community. Compared to other like >> "Genealogy Detective" software, etc., the Carmens are relative >> saints (no pun intended). They just want to make a buck (which I >> don't mind). But if their product was any good, they wouldn't have >> to lie and mislead people. >> >> The Carmens will also sell you Essential Oils complete with >> biblical references if you like: >> >> http://www.healthoils.com/ >> >> At least they'll have something to fall back on if the genealogy >> scam doesn't work out. >> > > > >> >