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Last Week at OneGreatFamily . . .
Site Activity Summary
129,892 new individual merges!
40,255 new individual hints!
43,282 new family merges!
14,033 new family hints!
149 average individual merges per group
46 average individual hints per group
39 average family merges per group
6 average family hints per group
If you didn't receive a GenMail telling you about new merges in your
family tree, your tree wasn't affected by this activity. You may want
to add new individuals or information to your family tree to improve
the likelihood of matches and merges taking place.
OneGreatFamily wants to hear from you. Please send us your success stories
and your recommendations for new features.
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Name Matching to Reduce Conflicts, Duplication
OneGreatFamily is in the process of implementing a new Genealogy Names Alternates Lookup tool. This genealogy tool will help OneGreatFamily provide hints or match individuals when they have been entered with more than one acceptable alternative spelling. The alternates lookup tool will help genealogists identify all of the variations for first names, such as Robert (Rob, Bob, Bobby, Robby, Bert) and last names, such as Reed (Read, Reede, Reade, Reid). In many cases, names evolve over the years. In other cases, people have gone by various names or nicknames at different times of their lives.
When fully implemented, this tool and its underlying database will help reduce the number of relationship conflicts within OneGreatFamily. Recognizing legitimate name alternatives will also provide more opportunities for matching and merging to take place, which will reduce duplication within OneGreatFamily.
OneGreatFamily needs your help in identifying alternate spellings for the names in your family tree. You are invited to help us identify names and their variations. The Genealogy Names Alternatives Lookup is now available on the new Genealogy Tools Page at OneGreatFamily.
 Visit the Genealogy Names Alternates Lookup today
Subscribe to OneGreatFamily to support our continued growth and improvements
OneGreatFamily Accepts Discover Cards
OneGreatFamily is pleased to add Discover to its list of acceptable forms of payment for its subscription service. OneGreatFamily now accepts online payments made using MasterCard, Visa, Amex and Discover.
OneGreatFamily is also considering adding more payment options for its service in the near future. These changes demonstrate our commitment to make OneGreatFamily and its subscription service available to the largest number of individuals possible while still supporting the long-term success of the service.
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How can I identify and avoid fraud while doing genealogy online?
by Jim Ericson - Marketing VP
You should be aware of at least three forms of fraud while you research your family tree online. This article will help you avoid falling prey to phony websites, malicious scams, and fraudulent genealogical information.
Phony Websites
Greed has motivated some people to "capitalize" on the desire of genealogists who possess the drive and passion to find their ancestors. Genealogy and technology expert Dick Eastman helped expose Elias Abodeely of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as one such scam artist. Through a number of "genealogy websites," most notably GenSeekers, Abodeely allegedly bilked genealogists by getting them to subscribe to a site that simply linked to other websites. Read Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter to learn more about this case of fraud.
Beware of websites that charge fees to access links or pieces of information that are freely available elsewhere on the Internet. These sites often make people pay twice to access the record they are looking for. A fooled consumer may pay the fraudulent website and then pay separate subscription fees to the legitimate websites that provide the real value.
The best way to avoid such frauds is to make sure you know what you are paying for and can try the website before you are billed for the service. Another way to protect yourself is to ask fellow researchers if they have used the site and what their experience has been. You may also want to look for a means of contacting the site's owner or administrator. Fraudulent websites seldom provide any means of contact.
The rise of fraudulent websites is one reason OneGreatFamily allows new guests to take advantage of a 7-day free trial. Registered guests who have taken time to become familiar with OneGreatFamily understand what they are paying for when they decide to subscribe to the service.
Malicious Scams
While phony websites are one form of genealogy scam, some scams are even more malicious. Ebay and other online services have recently warned customers against submitting personal information, such as account logins, billing information, and social security numbers, though email forms. Some crooks can get people to provide all the information they need for financial gain through an official-looking email message.
Always make sure you are on a company's official website before making a transaction or providing login information. Never provide information, such as billing information or a social security number, without a clear understanding of why the information is required and how the information will be used. Also, take the time to read and understand the terms and conditions of any offer you receive.
Other malicious scams are designed to get access to your bank account. The perpetrator of such a scam will often say they have money they want to deposit into your account. The reason for the deposit may be an inheritance check or a transfer from a foreign account where the person claims to be in distress or a "political prisoner." They will ask for your bank account information to make their deposits; however, instead of depositing funds, they empty the account.
Fraudulent Genealogy Information
The first two forms of fraud are malicious and motivated by greed. The perpetuation of fraudulent genealogy information, on the other hand, is typically more benign. The root of this fraud, however, typically stems from the same greed.
Much of the false genealogical information that has been published is also the result of greed. Several incidents of this sort of fraud have been documented as being done by hired researchers who wanted to embellish the research they were providing. Other false information has been perpetuated by researchers who have tried to "prove" relationships with little supporting evidence. In many cases, when a well-meaning researcher is given a choice between two possible alternatives, the more convenient or glamorous alternative is chosen without first looking for more evidence.
Several of these genealogies were "created" by Gustave Anjou, who repeatedly ensured his clients had genealogies that included several high-profile ancestors.
Unfortunately, much of this "research" has found its way into the databases of sincere researchers who were happy to quickly claim these high-profile (albeit false) ancestors as their own.
This information has also made its way online. In most cases, this information has been shared and promulgated unknowingly. The only way to identify and correct the result of this fraud is by carefully examining and documenting each piece of evidence.
Even in cases where sources are given, you may need to consult with the original source to verify that information is correct.
OneGreatFamily can help. OneGreatFamily lets you see alternatives for information in your family tree and collaborate with people who can help identify false information that may have crept into your tree. You can also share your discoveries and documentation with others to correct false information they may have unwittingly accepted from another source.
Subscribe to OneGreatFamily, a trusted genealogy service
Visit OneGreatFamily and verify information in your family tree
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How do I find my ancestors at OneGreatFamily?
by Ryan Long - Technical Support
The best way to find your ancestors at OneGreatFamily is to create or upload your family tree at OneGreatFamily.com. This ensures that OneGreatFamily will always search its entire database for possible matches to all of the individuals and families in your family tree. It also means others will be able to find your research and possibly connect it with their own.
If you're not ready to submit your family tree, you can use OneGreatFamily's search or Surname Index to find your ancestors. Searching for information on your ancestors can become difficult at times. That is why OneGreatFamily provides easy-to-use tools to help you find your ancestors.
The homepage search allows you to search for specific ancestors by entering their names and the names of other family members. Simply enter all known information in the search form located on the OneGreatFamily Homepage and click "Search." You will then see a results page with two options for viewing the detailed results. You can display the results in an HTML pedigree that includes names and dates for two generations, or you can view the results using Genealogy BrowserTM to see all connected information.
Sometimes just knowing a name is not enough information to find who you are looking for. The Surname Index is a great tool that displays all individuals in OneGreatFamily by last name. This can be particularly helpful if you are researching a specific line in your family tree. The Surname Index is a complete list of all of the records in OneGreatFamily. Each result contains available birth and death information for the individual and his or her parents. You can view any attached biographies, multimedia, notes, or citations by launching Genealogy Browser.
Following are some tips that you may find useful when you are using the tools:
- Name Variations: Sometimes there are discrepancies in the spelling on given and surnames. You may be able to find what you are looking for by checking alternate spellings.
- Date Discrepancies: Although there have been many efforts to perfect genealogical data, not all of it can be proven correct or incorrect. Remember to look for dates similar to what you are looking for.
- Use all of your available information: The more information that you have to start off with, the better you can do. Remember to use immediate and extended family relationships to aid in your research. You may be able to find additional listed relatives and poll additional information from them.
- Use Collaboration: Members submit all information in OneGreatFamily. When you find information, be sure to check out the submitter and send them an email. These are researchers just like you and may be able to give you additional information.
Send your technical support question to our team
Visit OneGreatFamily and expand your family tree today!
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