How to Avoid Being Scammed

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This group is a forum to share your experiences both positive and negative to help educate all of us

Location: Orem Utah
Members: 77
Latest Activity: Mar 14

Started by Rebecca Jan 2.

Started by Hal Kaufman May 4, 2011.

Started by Lynne Banks Mar 22, 2011.

Comment

Comment by MOi on June 2, 2011 at 12:09pm: Check out this story:

Oklahoma City police say adoption scams victimize at least 20

What I don't understand is how the adoption agencies got involved and scammed by these folks. Is not one of the advantages of using an adoption agency to screen out this type of fraudulent woman?

Comment by Little Blessings Adoption Srvcs on May 25, 2011 at 2:32pm: I agree with Hal...if you are not satisfied with the information you have received from your attorney, contact another AAAA one in your state and her state. I notice you are in CA, which is where I adopted from. Ted Youmans is who I used and he was very knowledgeable. He has written some of the CA adoption law, so try him. He is in the LA area.

Comment by MOi on May 25, 2011 at 1:56pm: Reference: Legal Opinions

How does one deal with differing opinions depending upon which state you are a resident?

For example, in the state of PA, it is considered "Baby selling" to have a sliding scale fee structure. But in TN, it is considered legal. So which states laws apply if you are trying to adopt a child in PA, but live in TN?

Right now I'm lending toward following my home state attorney.

Reference: "rematch" list. The agency states that list is private information and is not shared. The rumor mill has it they have a great deal of clients unhappy about their stated wait times versus their actual wait times, especially after failed adoptions.

Comment by Lynne Banks on May 25, 2011 at 1:41pm: I would consider or ask the agency about their "rematch" list. If they had/have alot of failed placements then they must have a long list of clients waiting to be matched.

www.adoptionscams.net

Comment by Hal Kaufman on May 25, 2011 at 1:33pm: Something else to consider MOi is to get a few more legal opinions from reputable adoption attorneys in your state and in the expectant mother's state. You might get conflicting advice that in this case could actually help. :) I would also consider having your attorney speak directly to the agency so they can work out a recommendation for you instead of placing you in the middle of their differing opinions.

Hal

My Adoption Advisor

Comment by MOi on May 25, 2011 at 1:24pm: It seems to me a way to inflate the birth-mother expenses. The agency is a very large national agency with numerous complaints due to a large number of failed adoptions. It makes me wonder when does the ratio of failed adoptions to successful adoptions become a red flag.

Comment by Little Blessings Adoption Srvcs on May 25, 2011 at 1:18pm: Not sure....have you asked them that? How reputable is the agency? Do they have an attorney on staff or that they are working with? Generally the legals are built in with the agency fees, but not always..

Comment by MOi on May 25, 2011 at 1:15pm: So why would an adoption agency want a potential adoptive parent to pay for a birth-mother's attorney if there is an already know conflict of interest? Isn't this putting the adoption into legal risk? Why would an adoption agency do something to put an adoption in a legal risk?

Comment by Little Blessings Adoption Srvcs on May 25, 2011 at 1:12pm: I'm not an attorney, so I would see what they say, but from what I understand, some states require the birthparents to have legal representation. If she is in another state, and your attorney is not licensed to practice there, than you would possibly need to hire someone in her state if the law requires. Also keep in mind you are not required to do anything, if you are uncomfortable with a potential situation you could back out. Good luck! :)

Comment by MOi on May 25, 2011 at 1:08pm: So I have a question about dealing with adoption agency when you are represented by an attorney. The adoption agency is requesting we pay for a birth mother's attorney. Our attorney is saying this is not a good idea and is a way for the birth-mother to challenge the adoption once our attorney terminates her parental rights. Basically, as I understand it, if you pay an attorney, they are working for you, even if you ask them to represent the birth-mother. Our attorney has even provided us case law on this issue. The adoption agency is very insistent on this. Since there is case law(aka the courts have already ruled this is illegal and a conflict of interest) on this issue, I'm wondering if this is a scam?