Interesting! I just saw this posted message posted on the Wells Co. list
though the bulletin board, and I believe Wells@Wells was kicked off the list
before! PLEASE READ! IT IS A SCAM!
Karl
----- Original Message -----
From: <KevinOBrien8527(a)aol.com>
To: <NYJEFFER-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 12:10 AM
Subject: [NYJEFFER] E-Mail Address Collection Scam Remedy
Dear Fellow Researchers:
By now many of you have heard of the scam going around by which many
of
us have willingly joined a "research list," only to find
out it was a
scam.
For those who have not seen it yet, the most recent posting invites
researchers to join a "new county list" to which they will be "ADDING ONE
BILLION NAMES SOON." All it does is take your e-mail information, place a
cookie and a directory key onto your computer's hard drive and then when
you
try to access the site it claims to be "overloaded" and
currently
undergoing
service. The software placed on your hard drive allow the viewers to
track
your Internet usage. They create a profile and sell the information to
companies who believe the information is being collected ethically. Your
reward of course is to get your E-mail box loaded up with "SPAM" AND IF
YOU
BY CHANCE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL PROFILE ATTACHED TO YOUR E-MAIL AND WEB
SURFING
PROPERTIES, THEY CAN EVEN TAKE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND OTHER PERSONAL
INFORMATION WHICH THEY SELL TO DIRECT MAILER AND TELEPHONE SOLICITOR
COMPANIES. This is the truest order of "CAVEAT EMPTOR" (Let the customer
beware).
If you have been had already, I received this link from PATRICIA HAMP
the GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN, ROOTSWEB coordinator. I downloaded software
from this site:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/downloads.html and activated
it.
I was stunned to see 61 "spy" type software entries in my
computer that I
never knew existed. I also located the one that was secretly placed by the
"one billion names" scam. By the way, I was had on the Kings County,
Washington and Jefferson County, New York lists.
Please take this information in the spirit it was intended and
protect
yourselves. These scumbags are taking advantage of us because we are
desperately seeking information on our ancestors and occasionally we reach
the point of desperation. I'm glad Pat Hamp shared the information with
me. I
hope all of you are.
Please do not forward this to other lists. Let the individual list
coordinators make those decisions.
Best wishes for continued success in your research!
Sincerely,
Kevin O'Brien
Laguna Hills, CA
Researching: Perkins, Warner
Shannon, Lowe
Gillie, des Riviere,
Sundell, Dorchester
Adams, Pinkerton
Leddy or Liddy
Van Schaick
[Chancy Smith & Fam.
Jefferson County, NY]
Saginaw County, MI
Genesee County, MI
Gratiot County, MI
Midland County, MI
Ottawa, Canada
Grenville, Quebec CN
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