FYI
To: adoptionscams@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, March 28, 2010 7:10:44 PM
Subject: [adoptionscams] An interesting meetihg with a law enforcement agent

My attorney got me the opportunity to speak to a law enforcement agent experienced in adoption scams.  I thought I would share his thoughts to hopefully help folks.

1.  Birthmother is NOT pregnant (pg).  Most common scam.  Numerous
stories/situations, but basically a con to separate you from your money.

2.  Birthmother has no plans to give up their baby.  The recession and various state laws have created a situation where a pg mothers can sign up with an adoption agency to get living expenses and hospital expenses paid.  The agent suggested that you look at the BM's social networking , cell phone records(provided you are paying for the cell phone bill), and friends to see if the BM was having baby's showers, decorating a nursery and other activities that
should be red flags.  It was this agent's opinion that the adoption agency should do this for the adoptive parents, but most do NOT.

3.  Baby Auction.  Birthmother shopping for the adoption agency that offers the most money.  Several situations where the BM signs at Adoption Agency A, gets maximum allowable living expenses, then get mad at adoption agency A, and then signs at adoption agency B to get more money. 

4.  Non-disclosure of medical issues.  The agent stated this was a problem in both domestic adoption and more of a problem in international adoptions.

5.  Most states prohibit post-birth living expenses.  Several reports of BM demanding post-birth living expenses or they will contest the adoption.

6.  Forced charitable donations.  Several adoption agencies states they have low or reduced fees.  What they failed to disclose is that the contract contains a forced charitable donations.

7.  After the adoption is final, BM calls demanding more money or they will dispute the adoption.  The agent evens seen fake attorney demand letters.

8.  Grandparents, aunts/uncle, cousins, have no rights in determining whether or not the BM gives up a child for adoption.  Various situations where the grandparents, aunt/uncle, cousins sue for custody of the adoptive child or demand money to not sue for custody

9.  Putative Father sues for custody.  Adoption agency fails to terminate parental rights for the putative father and the putative father sues for custody.  Many putative fathers are not the biological father.  Most will go away for a small fee.  According to agent, one adoptive couple experienced this three times.  Seems that all the BM has to do in this scam is goto the court and file a putative father form.  The court schedules a hearing, nobody shows up for the hearing and the judge orders the man listed on the form to be the putative father until he can prove otherwise.  With the court order, the putative father threats to sue for custody unless he gets a small fee.