A 31-year-old woman from Minnesota is facing trial for an adoption scheme in which she allegedly defrauded four women. Telling the fraud victims that she was pregnant and wanted to place the child up for adoption, she allegedly received money for phone bills, travel and other items.

"Last year, [Marie] Arquillo told the Chronicle-Telegram about the ordeal, saying she thought her prayers were answered when someone replied on an online message board about adoption. The woman, who said her name was Bella... emailed her and said she was pregnant with a girl and that she'd chosen Arquillo's profile as the potential parent."

Though Arquillo herself never lost any money, she said the other women who had been schemed lost about $10,000 between them. The woman accused of perpetrating the fraud has pleaded not guilty, and will face trial in February. Source: The Chronicle-Telegram (OH)

Labels: scheme, fraud

Posted By: Aspen Education Group