Heres the scenario..Someone I know has been contacted recently (within a week of each other) by 2 seperate 'long lost relatives'... This friend of mine is begining to wonder...has anyone ever heard of people contacting other people pretending to be long lost relatives..? Or is my friend being paranoid?...
2007-04-05 10:58:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Genealogy
Message for Newyorkg...Scam..please can you tell me more...sounds a bit worrying!! Have you heard of this happening to other people then?
2007-04-05 11:20:13 · update #1
I did just get a fax other day claiming my long lost German relatives are all dead in a horrible African plane crash, and if I'll just give the South African lawyer my bank account number I'm due to inherit eight million marks.
Now I was all set to do it, then it occurred to me what if the little boy is lost in the jungle rather than dead. What if he is raised by apes and eventually becomes their leader? Next thing you know the guy comes looking for me. So I sent the account number to that nice widow of the Lebanese general instead.
Seriously, unless they ask for money, a kidney, or to baby sit the kids what's the harm? A few awkward meetings with a distant relative real or fake won't hurt anyone.
2007-04-05 21:19:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's fairly common for people to call others of the same surname spelling, in a specific location, where clusters of descendants still live.
The words "long lost" are never used though, as one is just inquiring about a potential common ancestor, and if anyone in that family is interested in genealogy.
I've always registered my surname interest with the local Genealogical Society first. That is the only way in which I may assure the person, whom I am calling, that I am a family researcher, and only for long deceased ancestors (meeting the 100 year rule for informal inquiries). The stories of matching ancestors has led to getting to know cousins, hence the reason such an endeavor is now quite common.
So, based upon that...my suggestion would be the canned response:
Have you registered your research interest with [name of local genealogy society, interest group, library, etc.]?
BTW: Did you know some prisoners earn internet access by being good? Gives one pause...
2007-04-05 15:15:05 · answer #2 · answered by also... 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Question: What do the "long lost relatives" want from this person? I would suggest being very Leary of anyone claiming to be a long lost relative and don't give them anything!
2007-04-05 15:54:51 · answer #3 · answered by princesschubbybutt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The real question is "what are they wanting?" If they just want generic genealogy info on people who are dead, that's one thing. If they want info on people who are living, that's another thing. Don't forget that one of the common security questions in this country is, "What is your mother's maiden name?" or "What is your father's middle name?" How better to get that info than by posing as a genealogist.
Most respectable researchers send letters with SASE with notes of introduction that outline their research and what they're hoping to find. If these people aren't being that upfront, I'd be wary too.
2007-04-05 16:38:02 · answer #4 · answered by GenevievesMom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long losts - did your friend just win the lottery?
Can your friend's longlosts talk about known family, and do known family members know those people, mmmmmm?
-- have they asked for money yet?
This sort of thing is why it is unethical to put personal data of living persons online - one's own, or others'.
2007-04-05 11:15:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found my long lost cousin on-line, of course we were both looking for the same people on a ancestry.com message board.
2007-04-05 13:05:22 · answer #6 · answered by whisky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an ongoing SCAM.
2007-04-05 11:01:50 · answer #7 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋