Genealogy Pointers

Even in the field of genealogy you will find companies out there that will scam you if you let them. Even the knowledgeable have been sucked into one scam or another in their career. If you look up the meaning of scam, it is defined as “a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation.” This is exactly what these companies are doing to innocent people like you. The best defense against scams, hoaxes, and other deceptions is to be knowledgeable. The old saying is; if it sounds to good to be true, it’s probably not!

In order to not be sucked into a scam, you have to do your research before you send any of your hard earned money to any company. Below is some information about four different scams that are out there hunting for you. Being a genealogist, I have received several of these myself. You may receive the information by regular mail or by email. Genealogy is so wide known on the Internet that anyone can find you.

1. Your family history scam
A letter comes in the mail that claims to have done extensive research on the history of your surname. They might be introducing it in a form of a book. Saying it’s a wonderful book, one of a kind that traces your family surname back to the 1500’s. This sounds to good to be true, well it isn’t.

These books are just a generic form of your surname. The book usually will contain some general information on how to trace your family tree, a brief history of your surname, and then a list of names, like a phone book. The surname is so broad ranged that your particular family isn’t even in there.

There are a few other items to watch out for: Companies that are offering your family history, and the origin of your surname. These are printed on plaques. These only give you a generic history or the surname origin of some of the people that do hold that particular name. There is nothing on your particular branch of that name.

So any company that mass-produces items on an individual family history is only out for one thing, your money. Stay away!

2. Falsified Genealogy Credentials
Just because a genealogist doesn’t have a professional certification doesn’t mean they don’t know what they are doing. But it is very easy for an amateur family historian to charge for tracing a family tree. The government usually doesn’t require genealogist to be licensed, but professional genealogy organization have required screening programs.
So it’s easy for people to be misled by inappropriate credentials.

Before you ever hire a professional researcher, make sure you do your homework and know exactly what you are getting for your money.

3. Confusion of Coat of Arms
First and foremost, there is no coat of arms for a surname and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. A coat of arms belongs to an individual, not an entire family or the entire world with the same surname. For an individual to have a coat of arms, they had to of been granted one or be a direct descendent in a direct male line from the person whom had the coat of arms originally.

There are hundreds of companies out there that will sell you your coat of arms printed on what ever you would like, cups to t-shirts. Some companies are not out to get you but their advertisements are misleading. They say they have your coat of arms but how do they know if your family line has inherited it and has the right to display it.

I can verify this to be a fact. My father is a direct line back to the first person granted a coat of arms. I have been able to find the original coat of arms and I know who now holds the coat of arms in England. No company that I have found on the Internet can give me the right information for my surname. So if you are looking for something fun, go ahead and order away, but if you are looking for the legitimate thing, keep hunting and stay away from these companies.

4. Phony Inheritance Scam
This is the one I really like. You receive a letter out of the blue claiming that you have an unclaimed inheritance and that it has been found. A full report with details will be sent to you telling you how to claim your inheritance for a fee.

Hundreds upon hundreds of these letters go out everyday and they take in many people. What they are doing is, taking the money people send in for the fee and run.

If you really have an inheritance coming to you, you will be notified by a lawyer.

There are many more genealogy scams out there so always be aware, and ask yourself, can this be true?