Baby Broker Scammers X

Here is the story of a heartbreaking scam, from the great TV show "American Greed."

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/CNBC/Sections/CNBC_TV/CNBC_US/Shows/_Documentaries_Specials/American_Greed/Season_06/Episode_53/Cover/Cohen.Sentence.12.7.pdf

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Corruption in El Paso, Texas

Corruption in El Paso Texas

http://www.fbi.gov/elpaso/press-releases/2012/two-enter-guilty-pleas-in-connection-with-el-paso-corruption-investigation

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers IX

OK - back to reality.

     The main objective of the Baby Broker scam, just like any other scam, is to separate the mark from his money.  In this case, the baby broker will state and represent that the couple (or individual) wishing to adopt a baby has a baby available for adoption.

    But - just like in scams we have seen before, the baby does not exist.  Just as in scams we have seen previously, the scammer will demand fees up front for a service that does not exist (in this case, for a baby that does not exist).

   Rememebr the elemets we discussed: a real adoption agency will be certified, have a proven track record and be able to work internationally with recognized adoption agencies over the world.  If the adoption agency or individual you are working with does not meet these elements, then there are serious questions.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Oldie but a Goodie

Sometimes you can't trust the bank where you put your money.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txs/1News/Releases/2012%20January/120130%20Arnold.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Corruption in the Western District of Texas

Corruption in the Western District of Texas:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/2012/EP%20Corruption%20Schwartz%20Chavez%20pleas.pdf

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Massive Health Care Fraud in Dallas

Massive Health Care Fraud in Dallas, Texas

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/17516682/desoto-doctor-named-largest-healthcare-fraudster-in-us

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Top 10 Fraud Fugitives in Houston

This is from February 2012, but still good.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/gallery?section=news/consumer&id=8545589&photo=1

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Bankruptcy fraud in the Southern District of Texas

Bankruptcy Fraud in the Southern District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txs/1News/Releases/2012%20July/120703%20Fields.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Indictment for Fraud in the Eastern District

5 Indicted for Fraud in the Eastern District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txe/News/2012/edtx-ffetf-william-071212.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Attorney Guilty of Failure to File Taxes

Attorney sentenced for failure to file taxes in the Northern District of  Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/PressRelease/2012/JUL2012/jul17lesly_john_tax_fraud_fug_sen.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Tax Fraud in the Western District

Tax Fraud in the Western District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/2012/Ballard_tax_Austin_sen.pdf

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Mortgage Fraud

Mortgage Fraud in the Northern District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/PressRel12/lockhart_etal_convictions_pr.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Mail Fraud

Mail Fraud against the VFW in the Southern District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txs/1News/Releases/2012%20July/120709%20Nichols.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Interludes - Bank Fraud/ID theft

Bank fraud and identity theft in the Southern District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txs/1News/Releases/2012%20July/120710%20Gu.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers VIII

OK - let's continue discussing some of the ways to protect yourself.

     If you are involved in international adoptions, it is very beneficial, almost imperative, to get an opinion from a third party, independent immigration attorney before signing on with an international adoption agency or individual.  An immigration attorney will be able to inform you concerning the reputation of an adoption agency and can review the proposal and ideas of an adoption agency to see if these proposals or ideas work with American immigration law.

     The cost for such a consultation is usually a few hundred dollars, but it can be money well spent before getting involved with an international adoption agency and long term contracts and committments that can cost thousands of dollars.  In effect, this is like getting a second opinion from a doctor before undergoing a severe medical procedure.  This is always a good idea, and in these instances with legal matters, it is very important.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers VII

Let's examine some other ways to spot an adoption scam:

1.  It is beyond a doubt that adoption is expensive.  However, the person or couple who is adopting has a right to ask for and receive a breakdown of expenses.  The adoption agency should be able to provide within a reasonable amount of time (usually 48 hours) a list of the expenses that are involved in adoption and, more important, an explanation as to the costs.  Ex: if plane tickets are estimated at $5000 then the company should provide information as to which carrier will be used, when you will be expected to fly out and what times of the year you will have to travel.

2.  You should be provided with an estimate of the costs and the costs should remain within that estimate.  If, for example, adoption is expected to cost $25,000, then it should fall within this range.  If the agency is claiming that it now costs $30,000 after the person or couple has already entered the program, the agency should provide exact details as to why it now costs more.  If the price keeps on climbing, however, this is a red flag as to something being wrong. 

3.  Check to see if the adoption agency is registered with the Better Business Bureau.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers VI

As can be seen from the preceeding posts, and as also stated previously, international adoptions are tricky at best and full of pitfalls at worst.  They are expensive, time consuming and will require the services of an attorney (or an attorney working through an adoption organization).

     The first clue, therefore, that a scam is going on is when an "adoption agent" or a "baby broker" will tell his potential victims that he can "cut through" the red tape for an adoption in record time.  All for a price of course.

     It should be obvious by now that international adoptions will require navigating through both Federal and State law.  It is therefore impossible for anyone to cut through any amount of red tape when both State and Federal legal systems are involved.  Anyone who says that they know a shortcut to adoptions, therefore, especially international adoptions, is stating that they have a shortcut through both Federal and State bureacracy.  We know that is impossible.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers V

So, we have seen just in the past few posts just how difficult it is to adopt a child from a foreign counttry.  It is not a simple process nor is it a process that can be accomplished overnight.  When both Federal law and State law are involved, it is a long process which demands the use of at least one attorney (Immigration attorney) and probably a Family attorney as well. 

     But, for people who are desperate, they will sometimes listen to people that offer shortcuts or claim that they have an "in" into the system.  As stated, these people are desperate and, of course, this is what a fraudster is looking for. 

     Tommorrow we will explore just one of the ways a fraudster takes advantage of people in a situation that looks hopeless.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers IV

OK - we had a brief look at the Federal aspects of international adoption (namely some Immigration forms that deal with adoption as per the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended).

But - as I mentioned in my first post, international adoption is both a Federal matter (immigration) and a State matter (Family Law which is controlled by the states).  So, since I practice law in Texas (but not Family Law), here is a taste of the relevant portions of Texas Family Law dealing with adoption:

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/FA/htm/FA.162.htm

Of course I don't expect everyone to wade through this, but it is a good eample of just how complex is the issue of adoption.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers III

Let's begin by discussing the "international" side of international adoption.  When we are discussing the baby broker scam, we are normally discussing international adoption since it is easier for scammers to prey on people using the disguise of international adoption because this is harder for people to verify.

Here is an overview from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) on international adoption:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-600instr.pdf

NOTE - this is for form I-600 which is used for adoption purposes by the USCIS and serves as an overview of the process.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers II

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July yesterday (for those that celebrate American Independence Day).

     Many couples cannot have children and the costs of in-vitro or other types of assisted fertilization techniques are beyond the reach of many of these couples (usually medical insurance does not cover these matters).  Further, some of these couples are not even able to handle the drugs and other medical procedures needed for artificial insemination.

     This means that an infertile couple (or for that matter a single man or woman who wishes to have a child) turns to adoption.  However, the wait for adoption for babies is very long in many places in the U.S. which means that for these couples, sometimes international adoption is the answer.

     International adoption is  in itself a patchwork of laws which involve both Federal immigration laws (Immigration law is Federal law, as the United States Supreme Court has stated time and again) but family law is controlled by the states.  This means that anyone wishing to engage in international adoptions are not only facing the wonderful Federal bureaucracy of  Washington D.C. but also the family laws of their home state. 

     The complexity of these laws and the process of dealing with foreign governments (for international adoptions) means that many people are often confused and wondering how to go about adopting a child from abroad.  This confusion, of course, makes it a perfect breeding ground for fraudsters to find their mark.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Baby Broker Scammers I

We will be spending the next thread discussing a heartbreaking scam - representing onesself as an "adoption agent" to help infertile couples adopt a baby. 

Even by fraudster standards, this one is very sad and heartbreaking.

Stay tuned.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Computer Hacking in the Western District of Texas

Computer Hacking in the Western District of Texas

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/2012/Ochoa_Austin_hacking_plea.pdf

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk