Adoption Scams?

Question

Anyone ever hear of Amy Ost Cumbee? She scammed people out of their money and trust

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/13301137/

Has anyone have something like this happen to them? Why aren't there more laws against fraud like this?

Answer 1

My grandchilds parents used an ethical adoption agency and were scammed.

They hadn't paid any of the woman's expenses, but she kept them on the line for several months before the agency discovered she really wasn't pregnant.

Answer 2

Yes, one of those laws in quite a few states is that it's not legal to advertise or solicit for babies.

I totally think there are scummy people who exploit situations likes this and that sucks beans... but the advertising and solicitation needs to stop to help protect these families involved on both sides.

Answer 3

Yes it sucks.  But People can only get scammed if they don't follow ethical and moral channels of adoption.  

I don't have too much sympathy for people who try to get around the system and not do things the proper way and then cry 'foul'

Answer 4

We have a family member who was scammed.  A pregnant woman courted 6 families....In the end, she and her fiance were both put in Jail.  It was a very sad thing.    

In my state there are cross-registries which try to detect any scams...However, the problem, in my family member's case, was that her attorney did not check the registry.  Nor did any of the other 5 lawyers!   It seems they all  had extremely poor representation by lawyers trying to profit from the situation.  The families were so anxious to adopt that they took what they believed was a "short cut"  in the process.  This led to a very traumatic situation.  It  is important that those wishing to adopt do not let their emotions get in the way of proceding in a proper methodical fashion.  There are a lot of predators out there wanting to capitalize on others desires to become parents.

Answer 5

I have heard about similar stories like that.  It's a shame that people do this but there are so many con-artist & scammers it's ridiculous.  I remember seeing something on Dr. Phil about some lady doing that...she had no shame.  

I can't say if they do or not but yes I agree there should be harsh punishment for people who do this.

Answer 6

Although it wasn't adoption fraud, I was on the bad end of someone's fraud scheme once and lost some money.  It's very sad that no matter what is available in the world, there will always be people who will find a way to use it for their own personal gain by committing fraud or some other crime.

Yes, there should be stiff penalties for people who commit these crimes.  Restitution should always be a part of the penalties.  Such crimes normally do not keep people from using what is available in the world, though.  For example, people know there is the possibility of being the victim of phishing, identity theft, hacking and other technology related crimes, but the vast majority of people who know this weigh the benefits of using the Internet, credit card and other services that rely on technology again the possibility of becoming a victim.  The benefits normally win out.  

For people who really want to adopt, they may be more careful, such as using an agency rather than hooking up with someone they saw online or in another type of add.  I don't think these crimes have a significant negative affect on people using services or pursuing the things they want, such as being a parent.

Answer 7

Yes this is very sad but it does happen. This is why people looking to adopt need to do it the legally way. Not find some woman online who claims she wants to place, she could just want to scam prospective parents out of money. Though as elodie said  it can probably even sometimes happen even if it is legal. Maybe the birthmother has no true plans to place but just wants to be taken care of for a while, get some free stuff.  If she isn’t pregnant like in the case Elodie mentioned though the agency found out, someone else could certainly say they miscarried.  I saw a true story that aired on Lifetime about this.   There are people out there that use their children simple to make money.