Adoption scams are not all that common, but they are a reality and adoptive parents should be aware of them. Learn how you can protect yourself and avoid falling victim to one of these scams.
Private adoption is a wonderful way for people to grow their families. Many honest birth mothers are looking to voluntarily place their child with a loving family. However, there are also dishonest people out there who try to take advantage of hopeful families. Victims of adoption scams are often left both financially and emotionally distressed. If you are considering adoption or you are in the middle of the private adoption process, keep the following tips in mind to avoid fraud.
1. Know What an Adoption Scam Is
If you are new to the adoption process, you might not be aware of this kind of fraud. Usually, adoption scams occur when a birth mother has no intention of placing her child with a new family. In some cases, the birth mother might even fake her pregnancy. Scammers do this to draw financial support from the prospective family. Then, the birth mother withdraws from the plan because she never intended to place her child for adoption.
Now that you know what an adoption scam is, you can take further steps to ensure that you don’t fall victim to one.
2. Build a Relationship with Prospective Birth Parents
When adopting, you should try to get to know the prospective birth parents. This will help you determine how serious they are about completing the process. By getting familiar with the parents, in many cases, you can pick up on signs of dishonesty.
Birth parents who want to place their child in a loving home will typically make the effort to build a relationship. If they are hesitant about getting to know you, this could be a warning sign.
3. Keep an Eye Out for Red Flags
There are some other warning signs you should watch for. Take note of any inconsistencies in the birth parents’ story. If they are being dishonest, it can be hard for them to keep their lies straight. You should also be wary of direct requests for money. You should only transfer money through an agency or adoption attorney to ensure that funds are handled legally. Above all, trust your instinct. If something looks suspicious, don’t be afraid to address it. You could be saving yourself a lot of pain down the line.
4. Choose a Trusted Provider
This is perhaps the most important factor. You want to choose a provider that you know you can trust and who will assist in all of the steps above. Tammi Driver is a Florida Bar Board Certified adoption attorney who can advise you about options and requirements for adoption in Florida. Her office can oversee every step of the process: from verifying pregnancy and determining a birth mother’s commitment to her adoption plan, to facilitating the transfer of reasonable living expenses. Tammi and her staff will help you watch for red flags as they have extensive experience spotting the signs of a scam. Her office can also connect you with resources to continue your adoption education and adoption related counseling.
Call the Law Office of Tammi Driver today at 727-800-6681. Give yourself peace of mind by knowing that someone has your back in your adoption journey.
The threat of these scams should not deter you from adoption. The number of successful adoptions far exceeds the number of successful scams. These tips can help you avoid a potentially devastating situation.