BEFORE giving any money to an online genealogy site, check these sites to see if 
they are listed as being scams.

Genealogy Hall of Shame 

Cyndis List

The following are scams I am aware of.

Genlocator. 
This service charges, then takes the surname you enter and then transfers 
you to a free search engine. One of them they use is Alta Vista, a free search engine 
to use to begin with. So for the $36.00 {on line check} or $40.00 
{check through the mail}, they then transfer your search to a free search engine.

FamilyDiscovery.com
This service charges then the links that you are presented with are links to free sites
such as mine.

GenealogyDevelopments.com.  NEW!!
Same story with this one. It links you to free databases and search engines.

Genealogytechs.com 
This one is related to the ones above. The original perpetrators have been
arrested, but a relative has reopened a new site.

Sneezy Kat
This site may or may not be a scam. Just make sure if you access it, that you
get in writing what you can expect for your money, how much it will cost, and
send NO money in advance, especially cash. Ask for genealogical credentials 
and be very careful.