You didn't mention gencircles.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Carol To: [email protected] Sent: 7/28/2002 9:16:36 AM Subject: [TRIER-ROOTS-L] Warning Scam Shams Hi All, This is a message from one of my mailing list that I thought you might like to read and stash away for future reference. Maybe it will help us from getting scammed. Best, Carol This week I received two messages from two different researchers, each parallelling the other. The first message was from a list member regarding another new alias of our old nemesis, Family Discovery. Then, I received a second message from a researcher on another list regarding scam/spam. In lieu of these new messages, I decided somebody must be telling me something! So, today I'll bring you all up to speed on the newest of the bad side of the Web to ensure you're all protected with the necessary knowledge. ALL of my lists are receiving this message, including those city, county and state that I maintain. So, if you happen to be on more than one of them, I apologize in advance for your having to receive this more than once. This message includes the following topics: 1. Genealogyexperts.com ~ is it familydiscovery.com? 2. Scam/spam 3. Recommended sites GENEALOGYEXPERTS.COM ~ IS IT FAMILYDISCOVERY.COM? Most of us know all about these shysters. However, there are some of you who are new to the Web and don't know. This is for you: This is going to read just like my January warning! I'm sorry... but the words don't want to change... I guess it's always the same story with these people. :( "Genealogy Experts ~ it's a new commercial enterprise!" No, it isn't. This has the same trappings of Family Discovery using yet a another new alias; the same ploy as before ~ just with a new wrapping. Avoid them like you would any of Family Discovery's other "enterprises." Tender newbies, the subject of Family Discovery is NOT new and yes, they are rip-offs. This is an old subject among those of us who have been doing online genealogy for at least the last two years. The storyline changes a little, but the players are all the same, and you should be aware... Family Discovery and their alias sites (below) links their pages to free Rootsweb http://www.rootsweb.com sites and archive pages, USGenWeb sites, and privately owned sites by way of frames ... sites on which all the information is already free. Unless the attached site has some sort of identifier on each page, you the viewer, will not realize that you're viewing free pages and *paying* for the "privilege" of doing so! Family Discovery is doing this without permission and have been under investigation by at least two states' attorneys for the past two years. Now, while I'm at it, you need to know those other aliases so you're not taken in. Following is a list of sites associated with Family Discovery domain owners in one way or another: genealogydevelopments.com familydiscovery.com genealogyfinders.com genealogyfinders.net aboent.com genlocator.com genseeker.com genseekers.com genealogy-express.com Most of the above sites bill themselves as "the most comprehensive easy to use collection of online records ever compiled," or something close to it. 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! :) Census Diggins http://www.censusdiggins.com/familydiscovery.html has messages online from quite a few people who have stepped forward to tell you of their dealings with Family Discovery and some of their aliases. If you haven't done it already, it would be in your best interests to check it out, if only for a quick look. You newbies to online genealogy would be especially wise to go to this site and read what others are saying so you won't be ripped off. Jeff Scism has a lot of this in BIG, BLACK, BOLD lettering (really) on this page http://blacksheep.rootsweb.com/shame/genealogyexperts.htm . Between Census Diggins and Jeff's Blacksheep page, you'll certainly understand why I'm devoting half of this Coffee to a warning. Just please, remember the above list of aliases. These people will take your money, giving you little to nothing in return, and from their past history will not answer any of your messages. Hide your wallet, checkbook, credit card, and run! :) SPAM/SCAM This subject is one that, if not careful, could cost you your life savings. The second message I received said: "Larry Elder Radio host mentioned the Nigerian spam and how people ARE actually being taken in by it." If you receive this spam, the government wants you to send it to them at one of two addresses [email protected] or [email protected] . They are doing an investigation to get these people shut down. You'll need to forward the received message WITH THE FULL HEADERS. See the link to Gene Olson's site (below) where you can find instructions on how to open the full headers in a message. A site called Internet Scambusters http://www.scambusters.org/Scambusters52.html is dedicated to spreading the word about every scam they find out about. It's one you definitely want to visit. They have a newsletter that I receive that helps me stay ahead of these ripoffs; you might want to begin receiving it, yourself. EIGHT TIPS TO AVOID BEING TAKEN: 1.) Don't ever buy an item that you learn about via bulk email ("spam"). Your chances of receiving the item *at all* are only 45%, and the chance of your getting what you think at a reasonable price (so you're happy with the transaction) is less than 5%. In other words, "If it's spam, it's scam." 2. Always use a credit card to purchase online. This protects you. Your maximum exposure is $50, and often you won't even lose that amount if you get scammed. 3. If you are buying something at a reputable online auction site, always check out the references for the seller and only buy from sellers who have good references. Take advantage of online auction guarantees, such as those offered by amazon.com. 4. Don't conduct business with an anonymous user. Get the person's real name, business name (if applicable), address, and phone number. Verify this information before buying. And don't send your payment to a post office box. 5. Be more cautious if the seller uses a free email service, such as hotmail, yahoo, etc. Of course, most people who use these free services are honest. However, most problems occur when a free service is used. After all, with a free email service, it is very easy for the seller to keep his or her real identity and information hidden. 6. If the unsubscribe address is at a generic domain like Yahoo or Hotmail, chances are that your request will never be opened. On the other hand, if the site the spam mail is advertising has a quality domain, and the return address is within that domain, it's much more likely that the message will be read and may even be acted upon. 7. Save copies of all of the emails and other documents involved in the transaction. Then, if you discover that an item is counterfeit or not as advertised, you have documentation to help you deal with the problem. 8. Use common sense and trust your intuition. If you have a funny feeling about an item, don't buy it. You're very likely right that it is counterfeit. RECOMMENDED SITES Bad Business Web Site http://www.compuright.net/EWOlson/badbusiness/ will give you instructions on how to forward an e-mail with the complete headers ~ something you need to know in order to forward spam/scam messages to the government and spam- or scam-reporting sites. Internet Fraud Complaint Center http://www.ifccfbi.gov is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center which addresses fraud committed over the Internet by providing an easy to use way of alerting the authorities. ScamWatch http://www.scamwatch.com provides complete fraud Protection services for the entire Web community. These services include investigation, tracking, recording and removal of fraudulent activities (scams) on the Internet. Most services are available 24 hours a day and are cost free. [NOTE: Due to inadequate funding for their sites, Web Police, InterGOV, and all related agencies curtailed "all non-essential" services to the Internet community on July 22nd. It appears though, that you can still report a scam.] Victim-Assistance Online http://www.vaonline.org is a non-profit organization serving the international community. They are an on-line reference and communications resource for victim assistance service and support organizations, the staff and volunteers of these organizations, professionals in related fields and the general public. Our ancestors didn't have to put up with shysters in the same way we do today. Today we are almost required for our own survival to be one step ahead of "them" and certainly to be aware. It's my hope that this message, if you didn't already know, has done that for you. ==== TRIER-ROOTS Mailing List ==== Going on vacation longer than 4 days? Go to http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/DEU/TRIER-ROOTS.html to unsubscribe --- Jacquelyn Brant --- [email protected] --- EarthLink: It's your Internet.

Gencircles.com is not a scam. It is legitimate one, and it doesn't frame other sites. I use it often to locate other sites containing my family connections. No charge or fee to access. This is one that have search engine to seach BOTH the GenForum and the Rootsweb Message Boards same time. David Samuelsen, listowner Jacquelyn Brant wrote: > > You didn't mention gencircles.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Carol > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: 7/28/2002 9:16:36 AM > > Subject: [TRIER-ROOTS-L] Warning Scam > Shams > > > > > > Hi All, > > This is a message from one of my mailing list that I thought you might like > to read and stash away for future reference. > > Maybe it will help us from getting scammed. > > Best, > > Carol > > > > > > This week I received two messages from two different researchers, > each > > parallelling the other. The first message was from a list > member > > regarding another new alias of our old nemesis, Family > Discovery. Then, > > I received a second message from a researcher on another list > regarding > > scam/spam. In lieu of these new messages, I decided somebody > must be > > telling me something! So, today I'll bring you all up to speed > on the > > newest of the bad side of the Web to ensure you're all protected with > > the necessary knowledge. > > > > ALL of my lists are receiving this message, including those city, > county > > and state that I maintain. So, if you happen to be on more than > one of > > them, I apologize in advance for your having to receive this more > than > > once. > > > > This message includes the following topics: > > > > 1. Genealogyexperts.com ~ is it familydiscovery.com? > > 2. Scam/spam > > 3. Recommended sites > > > > GENEALOGYEXPERTS.COM ~ IS IT FAMILYDISCOVERY.COM? > > > > Most of us know all about these shysters. However, there are > some of > > you who are new to the Web and don't know. This is for > you: > > > > This is going to read just like my January warning! I'm sorry... > but > > the words don't want to change... I guess it's always the same story > > with these people. :( > > > > "Genealogy Experts ~ it's a new commercial enterprise!" > > > > No, it isn't. This has the same trappings of Family Discovery > using yet > > a another new alias; the same ploy as before ~ just with a new > > wrapping. Avoid them like you would any of Family Discovery's > other > > "enterprises." > > > > Tender newbies, the subject of Family Discovery is NOT new and yes, > they > > are rip-offs. This is an old subject among those of us who have > been > > doing online genealogy for at least the last two years. The > storyline > > changes a little, but the players are all the same, and you should be > > aware... > > > > Family Discovery and their alias sites (below) links their pages to > free > > Rootsweb http://www.rootsweb.com sites and archive > pages, USGenWeb > > sites, and privately owned sites by way of frames ... sites on which > all > > the information is already free. Unless the attached site has > some sort > > of identifier on each page, you the viewer, will not realize that > you're > > viewing free pages and *paying* for the "privilege" of doing > so! Family > > Discovery is doing this without permission and have been under > > investigation by at least two states' attorneys for the past two > years. > > > > Now, while I'm at it, you need to know those other aliases so you're > not > > taken in. Following is a list of sites associated with Family > Discovery > > domain owners in one way or another: > > > > genealogydevelopments.com > > familydiscovery.com > > genealogyfinders.com > > genealogyfinders.net > > aboent.com > > genlocator.com > > genseeker.com > > genseekers.com > > genealogy-express.com > > > > Most of the above sites bill themselves as "the most comprehensive > easy > > to use collection of online records ever compiled," or something > close > > to it. 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! :) > > > > Census Diggins http://www.censusdiggins.com/familydiscovery.html > has > > messages online from quite a few people who have stepped forward to > tell > > you of their dealings with Family Discovery and some of their aliases. > > If you haven't done it already, it would be in your best interests to > > check it out, if only for a quick look. You newbies to online > genealogy > > would be especially wise to go to this site and read what others are > > saying so you won't be ripped off. > > > > Jeff Scism has a lot of this in BIG, BLACK, BOLD lettering (really) > on > > this page http://blacksheep.rootsweb.com/shame/genealogyexperts.htm . > > Between Census Diggins and Jeff's Blacksheep page, you'll certainly > > understand why I'm devoting half of this Coffee to a warning. > > > > Just please, remember the above list of aliases. These people > will take > > your money, giving you little to nothing in return, and from their > past > > history will not answer any of your messages. Hide your > wallet, > > checkbook, credit card, and run! :) > > > > SPAM/SCAM > > > > This subject is one that, if not careful, could cost you your life > > savings. The second message I received said: "Larry Elder > Radio host mentioned the Nigerian spam and how people ARE > actually > > being taken in by it." If you receive this spam, the government > wants > > you to send it to them at one of two addresses [email protected] or > > [email protected] . They are doing an investigation > to get these > > people shut down. You'll need to forward the received message > WITH THE > > FULL HEADERS. See the link to Gene Olson's site (below) where > you can > > find instructions on how to open the full headers in a message. > > > > A site called Internet Scambusters > > http://www.scambusters.org/Scambusters52.html > is dedicated to > > spreading the word about every scam they find out about. It's > one you > > definitely want to visit. They have a newsletter that I receive > that > > helps me stay ahead of these ripoffs; you might want to begin > receiving > > it, yourself. > > > > EIGHT TIPS TO AVOID BEING TAKEN: > > > > 1.) Don't ever buy an item that you learn about via bulk email > ("spam"). > > Your chances of receiving the item *at all* are only 45%, and the > > chance of your getting what you think at a reasonable price (so > > you're happy with the transaction) is less than 5%. In other words, > > "If it's spam, it's scam." > > > > 2. Always use a credit card to purchase online. This protects > you. > > Your maximum exposure is $50, and often you won't even lose that > > amount if you get scammed. > > > > 3. If you are buying something at a reputable online auction > site, > > always check out the references for the seller and only buy from > > sellers who have good references. Take advantage of online > > auction guarantees, such as those offered by amazon.com. > > > > 4. Don't conduct business with an anonymous user. Get the > person's > > real name, business name (if applicable), address, and phone > > number. Verify this information before buying. And don't send your > > payment to a post office box. > > > > 5. Be more cautious if the seller uses a free email service, > such as > > hotmail, yahoo, etc. Of course, most people who use these free > > services are honest. However, most problems occur when a free > > service is used. After all, with a free email service, it is very > easy > > for the seller to keep his or her real identity and information > hidden. > > > > 6. If the unsubscribe address is at a generic domain like Yahoo > or > > Hotmail, chances are that your request will never be opened. On the > > other hand, if the site the spam mail is advertising has a quality > > domain, and the return address is within that domain, it's much more > > likely that the message will be read and may even be acted upon. > > > > 7. Save copies of all of the emails and other documents involved > in the > > transaction. Then, if you discover that an item is counterfeit or not > as > > advertised, you have documentation to help you deal with the problem. > > > > 8. Use common sense and trust your intuition. If you have a > funny > > feeling about an item, don't buy it. You're very likely right that it > is > > counterfeit. > > > > RECOMMENDED SITES > > > > Bad Business Web Site http://www.compuright.net/EWOlson/badbusiness/ > > will give you instructions on how to forward an e-mail with the > complete > > headers ~ something you need to know in order to forward spam/scam > > messages to the government and spam- or scam-reporting sites. > > > > Internet Fraud Complaint Center http://www.ifccfbi.gov is a > > partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the > National > > White Collar Crime Center which addresses fraud committed over the > > Internet by providing an easy to use way of alerting the authorities. > > > > ScamWatch http://www.scamwatch.com provides > complete fraud Protection > > services for the entire Web community. These services include > > investigation, tracking, recording and removal of fraudulent > activities > > (scams) on the Internet. Most services are available 24 hours a day > and > > are cost free. [NOTE: Due to inadequate funding for their sites, Web > > Police, InterGOV, and all related agencies curtailed "all > non-essential" > > services to the Internet community on July 22nd. It appears > though, > > that you can still report a scam.] > > > > Victim-Assistance Online http://www.vaonline.org is a > non-profit > > organization serving the international community. They are an on-line > > reference and communications resource for victim assistance service > and > > support organizations, the staff and volunteers of these > organizations, > > professionals in related fields and the general public. > > > > Our ancestors didn't have to put up with shysters in the same way we > do > > today. Today we are almost required for our own survival to be > one step > > ahead of "them" and certainly to be aware. It's my hope that this > > message, if you didn't already know, has done that for you. > > > > > > > > > > ==== TRIER-ROOTS Mailing List ==== > > Going on vacation longer than 4 days? Go to > > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/DEU/TRIER-ROOTS.html > > to unsubscribe > > > > > > --- Jacquelyn Brant > > --- [email protected] > > --- EarthLink: It's your Internet. > > ==== TRIER-ROOTS Mailing List ==== > Going on vacation longer than 4 days? Go to > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/DEU/TRIER-ROOTS.html > to unsubscribe