Possible internet genealogy scam

[Pault]

I get loads of Nigerian dodgy money offers - look out for Nigerian address, bad grammar, hyperbole, expressinos of sincereity and the fact that IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

[D ap D]

I haven't had any from Nigeria for a while, perhaps due to the clause 419. However the problem seem sto have relocated to Togo and Benin.

I don't have any family there either.

The same goes for buying university degrees (I've got enough already), anatomical extensions (I'm happy the way it is), performance enhancing tablets (my wife hasn't complained yet) or anything else. Even mails (apparently) from myself saying "Hello". All junk, all binned.

[leagen]

Guess what folks, I just got another one from Nigeria not 20 mins. ago.  The heading on this one looked legit so I opened it but deleted it soon as I realized what it was.  So be on the look-out, even if heading looks O.K., Beware!                  Leagen

[Willow 4873]

I received one yesterday claiming that my relative Edward Hylton had died and they were trying to trace his relatives

The thing that gave it away as a total scam? My maiden name is Hilton I changed the spelling to Hylton after I changed my name from Jackson when I divorced so it would be a wild leap of imagination to actually connect me to this 'supposed' relative

BTW they very nicely posted pictures of the site that he was killed at in an explosion. Bit heartless if he was actually a relative

Also seems a bit daft contacting someone who is researching their family tree as well - shall I e-mail them back and ask which branch of the family tree he came down. Bet that would throw them lol!

And yes I have forwarded on to fraudwatchinternational

Willow x

[D ap D]

Morning,

the last thing anyone should do is answer these mails. that just confirms that your email address exists. These scam mailings usually generate email addresses by computer, many of which may or may not exist. As I said, if you answer, you confirm your address, which can make you the pointed target of even more rubbish. 

[Berlin-Bob]

... and just to add to that:

If you do (even) read one of these mails, DO NOT click on anything that say "Remove your name from ...." this subscriber list, mailing list, etc., or anything similar !

This is often another ruse to check if the e-mail address is valid and ...

if you answer, you confirm your address, which can make you the pointed target of even more rubbish. 

[Hackstaple]

About 1880 or so the States was overrun by confidence tricksters with grandiose schemes to bilk John Public of his saved dollars. One was the Cat and Rat Ranch. Catskins fetched a good price so they were worth ranching on a huge scale. Rats bred rapidly so they would serve as a cheap food source for the cats. What were they to feed the rats on? The skinned cat carcasses
And so, massive profits were assured

[MrsLizzy]

This looks just like a typical fraudulent e-mail that emanates so frequently from African countries these days.  I used to get around 5 a day until I changed to a new e-mail account, but no doubt they'll catch up with me again eventually.  These people must think we are all really stupid!

[RJ_Paton]

Unfortunately there are people out there who respond to these fraudsters official figures put it in the hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum.

The bottom line to remember is "If it sounds too good to be true...... avoid it like the plague    "