Myths, Hoaxes & Scams » Fakes & Falsehoods

Errors to Beware in Burke's Peerage (Wayback Machine)

False Ancestors - Grafting Family Trees

Article by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG.

FamilySearch Wiki - Fraudulent Genealogies

FamilySearch Wiki - Fraudulent Genealogies

Fraudulent Lineages

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Genealogy Frauds

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GenealogyMagazine.com - Watch Out for Fake Family Trees

Many ancient, illustrious family trees are in need of pruning, if not chopping down. Fraudulent genealogies make their way into books which sit on library shelves, waiting to deceive a new, unsuspecting generation of genealogists.

Gustav Anjou - Wikipedia

Horn Papers - Wikipedia

The Horn Papers were a genealogical hoax consisting of forged historical records for the northeastern United States for the period from 1765 to 1795.

Library of Congress - Buchanan Estate Scam: Detecting and Navigating Genealogical Hoaxes

Fabricated family trees are an obstacle to genealogical research. Using the real-life example of the Buchanan Estate Scam material, this guide demonstrates how to recognize similar fake lineages that could derail your research.

Library of Congress - Horn Papers: Forged Local History

The three-volume set, entitled “The Horn Papers,” was published by the Greene County, Pennsylvania Historical Society in 1945. This guide comprises resources related to the discrediting of the first two volumes by historical scholars as forgeries.

More Fraudulent Lineages

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Phony baron swindled early Arizona residents | Arizona Sonora News Service