Genealogy Information

[the happy granny]

I would be cautious too.

Like gah I too have shared information,photo's and certificates............and I too didn't get a thank you. 

It could work to your advantage though, if you ask the person contacting you to "show their hand" and let you see what information they have already on the family. 

I have contacted people too for a third party..........but only for members of my family or close friends.

One site I watch regularly has obvious "professional researchers" being paid to research but making out they are researching their own tree.

By nature, as people researching our family trees, we love to share,sadly there are people who will take advantage of that.............how many times have you got excited when a distant rellie contacts you?...........these people know that.

I'm a great believer in "gut instinct"......it never fails!!

Sue

[doric]

Again thank you all for your interest and guidance - I have followed the advice that the majority of you have suggested and erred on the side of caution.  I am sticking to my gut instinct for now, but have suggested to the third party that it would be better for the family member concerned to make direct contact with me first to clarify the situation, before I send anything on.

When I was first contacted, I was told that this person was researching on behalf of a friend, I didn't think anything of it at the time, but on checking the email address it certainly put doubts into my mind, as it suggested to me that it may well be linked to a business, (possibly a professional researcher) and that's what I am not too happy about, especially if they use some of my material for their gain.

Anyway, again thanks to you all for your help, it is very much appreciated.

                               Doric

                         

[julianb]

Doric

Good luck.

As you can tell from the response to your original post (and from other threads eg on Ancestry and Genes Reunited) this is a bit of hot topic, and I'm sure we'd want to know how you get on in handling all this.

JULIAN

[Roobarb]

Well now I'm wondering if I've 'been had'. I got a message asking for information on someone who is my ancestor and asking for access to my tree. I wrote a short reply confirming the link and asked for access to theirs,  to which I got this:

I''m sorry but I don''t have the tree on the site. I am doing it for a friend ****** and I don''t believe that I can have two trees.

Then followed a few ancestor details.
******** **********(1918) was ******s grandfather

However, I know ******would be thrilled to learn more.
I would be grateful for access to your tree.

The details he had given me checked out and I gave him access to my tree and said I would be grateful for any information he had. I haven't heard anything since but it's only a couple of days ago. Maybe I should have followed my first instincts and carried on being cagey!

If anyone recognises their message, shout up! 

[Tuganneth]

Hi
Concerning 'third party' inquiries
From what has been said thus far I cannot agree more about acting on the side of caution

Preferable to deal direct with the alleged 'relative' AND ask some questions first

I my self  will take such caution on board
Thank  you

[doric]

Well folks,

My request for advice re information to a 'third party' certainly has stirred up a 'hornets nest'.  I never expected that level of response but would suggest that now that we have become aware of how common this problem is becoming, would it not be possible for RC or GR to officially discourage members from dealing with third parties on their sites.

Julian, I will certainly post an update as to how things progress.

Again many thanks to you all.

                 Doric

[loo]

I think the Golden Rule applies here.
This is not the sort of enquiry that "we" would make, so no reason to accept it from some unknown. 
If I was looking to make contact and get info from someone who never had heard of me before, I would follow the procedures outlined in various articles and books, which generally advise one not to alarm the recipient, and to send them hard data which prove who the inquirer is and what the connection is.  The burden of proof is on the person who initiates the query.

[hlbradd]

However......

I had a 'third party enquiry' - someone looking on behalf of a friend (Sue) who isn't on the internet.

That turned out to be genuine - and after mutual research we managed to establish that we are sixth cousins  - both descended from Richard (c1766) and Mary Plant from Stratford/West Ham  

I'm now helping her with her part of the tree  - so am making 'third party' enquiries of my own.  Must add here that I do explain how I am related to Sue, and Sue is related to them.

So there are genuine enquirers out there - just be careful how you go.

Helen

[dinkey]

I am also acting as a third party as I am helping my mum's cousin who is related  to me through her father but now wants to do her mother's side.

She does not have a computer so I am putting all her information on my database which I have explained to people when I contact them and that I can print off a report of the family so that I can email it to them so they can see easily where they are connected to mum's cousin.

I feel it is necessary to not alarm people you make contact with and make sure you establish why you are contacting them in this way and what you already have so they know you are genuine.

dinkey