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Archiver > PAMCKEAN > 2004-10 > 1098796141


From: "Larry and Maureen Lee" <>
Subject: Genealogy Fraud
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 06:09:01 -0700


Good morning.

I wanted to share with you an experirence I had a few weeks ago, in the hopes that it will raise awareness that not even the genealogy world is free from hucksters. With genealogy being the third most popular hobby (obsession?) in the world it only stands to reason that there are people out there ready to have you and your money part ways. I've heard/read about quite a few scams, but this is a new one for me.

I received this email from one P. Way (email address ), which I believe is a Canadian address: "Hello Maureen, You don't know me but I have come across some articles about Ms. _______'s (name omitted to protect identity) family. I happened to be shopping in Osgoode, Ontario (just south of Ottawa) with my parents and sister. We went into a small flee market there and was very intrigued to find a very old photo album. It was surprising to find anything there really as it was so full of items. I was searching the internet to find info on this family and I found reference to ____ but no way of contacting her or her family. Hence, this email to you. Since you mention her in your website, I assume you know her. This email comes to you with full good intentions and is of informational purposes only. This photo album was obviously very old and antiqued. It had photos of _____ (ancestor) and family. Single pics of the 3 kids, the mom, the rev.etc. It was captiv!
ating. The woman selling it did not know where it came from or any details about it at all, other than it was over 100 yrs old. She said her husband was working there when it was brought in and he had not logged in any info about it. I wanted to buy it but it was $100 and I did not have the money. I would love to hear from you about this. I do not know if the flea market ever sold it. Can you contact ____ or her family about this? I would assume that if this is part of her family's history, she would want to know about it. Sicnerely, Pamela Way"

Now when I received this email I will admit I was pretty excited! It wasn't totally unbelievable that a photo album would have ended up in Canada, after all my ancestors were in NY and PA, in close proximity to Ontario. I replied promptly and asked her if the album were still for sale. I received a response that advised she'd visit the flea market and let me know. I asked that she provide my contact information to the seller and if we struck a deal I would pay her a small "finder's fee." I received a second email with a photo attachment and, sure enough, it was a photo of my family. First thing I noticed about the photo is that I already have that one. I immediately went to my site and looked at the one I have there. I compared the two and there was no doubt that they were identical, based on various marks on the photo, a small tear, a corner missing, etc. Now I'm thinking this person emailed me my own photo, hoping to convince me that the album existed. I immediat!
ely wondered how she got that photo if she hadn't bought the photo album! Alarm bells were ringing, and loudly! After the weekend I emailed this individual and asked if she had any luck at the flea market. No response! Not that I'm surprised.

Luckily I had the foresight to not send any money. If it would have progressed to the point that the album actually existed (I believe now that it doesn't) I would have used a neutral third-party to hold the money until I had inspected the item.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Maureen M. Lee, PA-McKean List Administrator

www.happeningsinthehills.com (History of the Pennsylvania Counties of McKean and Potter, and the New York Counties of Allegany and Cattaraugus)
www.happeningsinthehills.com/adma (Austin Dam Memorial Association)
www.happeningsinthehills.com/brag (Bolivar-Richburg-Allentown-Genesee Historical Preservation Society)
www.happeningsinthehills.com/mcgs (McKean County Genealogical Society)
www.happeningsinthehills.com/ovhs (Oswayo Valley Historical Society)





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