# A Hoax in the Family: The Buchanan Estate Scam

This extreme example of genealogy-gone-bad is a lesson to all of us about how to avoid stealthy pitfalls in family history research. It began when a grocer in Texas seized on a scheme to rally weary spirits, as the Great Depression drained hopes and finances across the country. He announced an 50,000,000.00 estate to be distributed among the eligible heirs of a vague ancestor. Before it was proven in Civil Court to be a complete fabrication, hopeful heirs of the estate scam overwhelmed the United States Postal System, New York Surrogate Courts, and Library of Congress. Tune in to this video to learn more about this event in history.

- Kind: Film
- Year: 2021
- By: Library Of Congress
- Genres: Children's
- Archive: [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/item/2024697770/)
- Licence or status: Rights statement at the Library of Congress (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Library of Congress
- Who can watch: Kids profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/loc/2024697770?play=1)