We used and agency/attorney and still got scammed. Unfortunately
NOTHING IS FOOLPROOF! The birthmother, Connie found a way to get money from multiple people w/out legal reprecussions.
We were the only couple using an attorney, the other three couples that were communicating and met w/Connie during the same time frame as we were, were not using an agency or an attorney. She was basically promising them the baby and taking their money. Yes, they were the ones who made the grave error of sending someone money w/out legal representation (over 5k between the three of them) but we also shelled out over 7k ourselves thru the agencey's trust acct we had set up for her so bills could be taken care of. I took the liberty as the previous poster said, to buy some of the maternity clothes because I wanted to make sure she didn't spend the money unwisely. She was allotted 300.00 in maternity clothing, I spent the first 150.00 on clothes and she was given 150.00 which was considered a "clothing allowance" and approved by a judge, which she decided to spend on outstanding court fees. There is much more to this if you want to read my previous posts in regard to it
We're getting angrier everyday Help!
What she did is not illegal in the eyes of the Sarasota Police Dept who was investigating her. She had to be signed up with more than one agency and receiving money from more than one agency in order for her to be prosecuted for fraud. Which she supposedly was not, I have other evidence to show she was working with another agency A Bond Of Love (Sarasota) during the same time frame. So its ok....... for a birthmother to promise 4 couples a child, take their money willingly and not one of the four couples adopted the child. I have chosen not to pursue this because "the system" does not work. I am also 6 months pregnant (I found out 1 week after this baby was born May 15th) I thank God everyday that I do not have to go thru adoption, we would never in a million years attempt to do it again because of this. I trust no one which is very sad. My hubby was adopted and we thought it would be a great way to expand our family and help out someone who really needed/and wanted it. I know that not every birthmother is like the one we encountered, but how do you overcome that after what has been done. We never will.