Family Tree Maker Support Site SCAM ALERT! They Want Your Money (And Your Data)

Family Tree Maker Support Site: Picture this: It’s Saturday morning. You’ve got your coffee, your census records are lined up, and you’re ready to break down a brick wall in Family Tree Maker 2019. But then—a glitch. The software freezes. You panic.

You do what anyone would do. You go to Google and type in “Family Tree Maker support.”

The first result looks perfect. The URL is familytreesupport.com. The site is clean, it has the familiar green tree logo, and there’s a toll-free number pulsating at the top of the screen begging you to call.

Stop.

Do not click. Do not call. And for the love of your ancestors, do not let them remotely access your computer.

You have just stumbled onto one of the most persistent “support” schemes targeting the genealogy community today. We went undercover to investigate this site so you don’t have to. Here is what we found.

Family Tree Maker Support Site: The Investigation: “Tane Innovative Concepts” Exposed

At first glance, familytreesupport.com looks legitimate. It uses the right colors, mentions “FTM 2019” and “FTM 2024,” and promises 24/7 assistance.

But if you scroll… and scroll… all the way to the bottom of the page, past the helpful-looking menus, you will find the smoking gun in the fine print:

“We are an independent service provider and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any way connected to MacKiev, RootsMagic, Ancestry, or any other brand mentioned on our site.”

This site is run by a third-party entity called Tane Innovative Concepts LLC. They are not Software MacKiev. They are not the developers of the software you use.

Note: I have decided NOT to provide a link to Tane Innovative Concepts LLC. Clicking on it brings up a security warning on my Avast Security software, thus another indicator that this who site is not legit.

Family Tree Maker Support Site: Why This is Dangerous

Legitimate software companies like MacKiev do not operate this way. When you mistake a third-party site for the real thing, you open yourself up to three major risks:

• The “Remote Access” Trap: These sites almost always encourage you to call a phone number. Once on the line, the “technician” will ask to remotely control your computer to “diagnose” the issue. Never grant remote access to a stranger. This gives them full reign over your files, your passwords, and your personal data.

• Unnecessary Fees: MacKiev provides support for free. These third-party sites will often diagnose a “critical error” or “corrupt database” that—miraculously—can only be fixed if you buy a $100+ support package or unnecessary security software.

• Data Security: As genealogists, our computers are treasure troves of data—living relatives’ birth dates, mother’s maiden names, and potentially DNA login credentials. Handing this over to an unregulated third party is a security nightmare.

Family Tree Maker Support Site: The Real Deal: How to Actually Get Support

If you need help with Family Tree Maker, there is only one place you should go.

• Official Developer: Software MacKiev

• Official Support URL: https://support.mackiev.com/

• How They Work: MacKiev does not have a public inbound support phone number. They use a Live Chat system and a ticketed Email If you see a site with a big “Call Us Now” 1-800 number, it is almost certainly a third-party service.

Family Tree Maker Support Site: How to Spot a Fake “Genealogy Help” Site

These sites are popping up for all major platforms, including Ancestry, Legacy Family Tree, and RootsMagic. Here is your cheat sheet to spotting them:

• Check the URL: Does it say com? If it says familytreesupport, ftmhelp, genealogysupport247, or mackievhelp.net, it is likely a fake.

• Look for the “Ad” Tag: Scammers often pay for Google Ads to appear above the official search results. Always look for the bold Ad text next to the search result and skip it.

• Grammar Police: Read the text carefully. Many of these sites are operated overseas and contain awkward phrasing. For example, the familytreesupport site references “Genealogologists” and “Tame Innovative Concepts” (misspelling their own company name in some instances).

• The “Disclaimer” Hunt: Always hit Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) and search for “affiliated.” If they have to legally disclaim that they aren’t the actual company, you should leave immediately.

Family Tree Maker Support Site: Call to Action: Protect Our Community

We need to look out for each other. New genealogists and our older community members are the primary targets for these schemes.

• Report It: If you see a misleading ad on Google, click the three vertical dots next to the ad and select “Report this ad.” You can also report misleading sites to Google Safe Browsing.

• Spread the Word: Share this article with your local genealogy society, your Facebook groups, and your research partners.

• Stick to the Source: Bookmark the official support pages for your software now, so you don’t have to search for them in a moment of panic later.

Don’t let a “glitch” turn into a “scam.” Keep your data safe, keep your wallet closed, and keep researching!

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Author’s Note: I want to be transparent that this article – SCAM ALERT: The “Official” Family Tree Maker Support Site That Wants Your Money (And Your Data) – was created in part with the help of an artificial intelligence (AI) language model – Gemini 3 Pro. The AI assisted in generating an early draft of the article, but every paragraph was subsequently reviewed, edited, and refined by me. The final content is the result of extensive human curation and creativity. I am proud to present this work and assure readers that while AI was a tool in the process, the story, style, and substance have been carefully shaped by the author.