What genealogy sites have you found that use bait and switch?

[Boomer Wisdom]

I have found disappointing and obviously useless sites. I'd tell you which ones, but they change ISPs and names --mostly they're "people finder" services. I don't click on those. They are useless.

This is a very good question to ask, especially since many older people are getting into genealogy and have not had all that much computer experience with the jungle of the Internet. Spotting con-artists and frauds is a bit different from the old days; but the basic game is the same.

Finding a dependable source of genealogical documents and information is just the same as finding a good, honest, dependable plumber. Sometimes you don't want to go too cheap; often you'll find an offer too good to be true; unskilled, unlicensed, or uninsured plumbers can do far more damage to you than a clogged drain.
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This is how all internet web site scams work:

1) By teasing. Sex, unemployment, desperate, lonely, genuinely interested? There's a site looking for you. And yes, it's always FREE FREE FREE. (but hurry, limited time offer.) This step is then followed by:

2) Showing something, but not enough to satisfy. Now, THIS is where con artists usually find their "mark." This is when you get to register, and fork over your email and ISP information, and CREDIT CARD INFORMATION which is then sold to nefarious outfits.

I haven't run into any nefarious genealogical websites, but I still get solicitations from several that I checked out early in my genealogical endeavors, even though I haven't dealt with them since and never gave them financial info. And I actually share such experiences with REAL human genealogy folks who have led me to safe, decent sources of information. I found a good plumber with that same method, just by asking neighbors. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising for any successful company. Technology has not changed that.

And as Kim Komando sez: If it looks funny, just don't click.