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

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Americans are responding en masse to the devastating earthquake that hit China recently. American adoption agencies have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people interesting in adopting children orphaned by the tragedy. But would-be adoptive parents are advised to be aware that some unsavory individuals are attempting to take advantage of this catastrophe for fraudulent purposes.

"Now that increased interest to adopt has prompted a scam targeting American families, who are hoping to help a Chinese orphan find a home. 'They've been contacted from China, and [are] being offered an opportunity to adopt a child from the earthquake region... for an adoption fee of fifteen thousand dollars,' says [Lanny] Knight."

Knight is the Executive Director of an adoption agency and he warns people not to fall for this scam. Legitimate adoption agencies won't cold call people with adoption offers. Knight urges people to make sure that adoption agencies are legally licensed entities. Source: KMPH News - Fresno, California

Labels: China, scams, fraud

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Guatemalan birth mothers who used false identities when placing their babies for adoption will have to face charges, says prosecutor Jaime Tecu. His comments reference an official probe into the Casa Quivira adoption agency that is alleged to have provided birth mothers with false identities so they wouldn't have to get permission from other family members to place their babies for adoption.

"In two of the five alleged false identity cases, the birth mothers assumed the identities of babies who were stillborn two decades ago. Two other mothers stole the identities of living women whom prosecutors later located."

Hanging in the balance are the futures of the women's children, all of whom had been in the process of being adopted. In Guatemala, only single mothers can unilaterally place their babies for adoption. In cases where the biological parents are married, both must agree to the decision, as must the couple's immediate family. Read more at SunTimes.com.

Labels: birth_parents, fraud, unwanted_pregancy

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The Colorado Department of Human Services will take 60 days to fully review the practices of all licensed adoption agencies operating within the state. The review comes on the heels of an investigation of fraud charges that have been brought against Claar Foundation adoption agency in Boulder.

"Police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley on Friday said investigators are still looking into allegations that Claar officials, including former Erie Trustee Lisa Novak and her husband, Martin Claar, defrauded and stole money from hopeful parents."

The Claar Foundation is one of two adoption agencies that have closed their doors since December, with another planning to close soon as well. The investigation, coupled with the closures, has raised concerns about the financial practices of Colorado agencies. The Department of Human Services plans to make its findings public once the investigation is complete. Read more at DailyCamera.com.

Labels: agencies, fraud, licensing

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A state audit of New York’s Office of Children and Family Services found that over $200,000 in improper payments were made to parents who had adopted hard-to-place children. The payments were received by adoptive parents whose kids had either passed away or were too old to qualify for aid.

The Office of Children and Family Services doled out $180,783 in aid for 25 children who were listed as deceased, according to an audit conducted between January 2007 and January 2009. ...

The agency stopped the improper payments during the course of the audit and officials are now trying to recover the money.” [Source: Democrat and Chronicle]

Though $200,000 may not seem like much for a program that pays out over $490 million each year, it is money that could have been spent to help adopt more kids out of the foster care system. The Offices of Children and Family Services, in an attempt to prevent future mistakes, plans to begin partnering with the state Department of Health to match vital statics of children who are receiving aid.
 

Labels: adoptive parents, fraud

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