The Importance of Reporting and Where to Report Negative Experiences PEAR has always been concerned about the well-being of children. We are also concerned about honesty and integrity in the adoption process. It has been our experience that there is a vast underreporting of unethical, dangerous, and/or illegal practices in the child welfare community, and as a result PEAR encourages …
Category: Adoption Fraud/Scams
Nepal & India — Dal Bahadur Phadera & the suppressed UNICEF report
Dal Bahadur Phadera & the suppressed UNICEF report UNICEF Nepal’s suppressed Humla report is now available on the web. The reason UNICEF Nepal suppressed (i.e., never published) their 2005 report is unclear. Nor is it clear why trafficked Nepali children were left at the Michael Job Centre, Tamil Nadu, for over six years. UNICEF FWLD Displacement of Children From Humla …
DOS Adoption Alert: Haiti/Independent Adoptions
June 27, 2011 Alert: Pursuing Independent Adoptions without Licensed Agencies Increases Risks of Delays and Fraud The Department of State has seen a recent increase in U.S. citizens seeking to pursue adoptions in Haiti through independent agents instead of licensed adoption providers. While these “private” adoptions are currently permissible in Haiti, prospective adoptive parents should be aware of the risks …
Criminal Cases in Adoption: Kevin Cohen Found Guilty
Long Island attorney found guilty in $300K adoption scheme Last Updated: 3:38 PM, November 1, 2010 Posted: 3:38 PM, November 1, 2010 MINEOLA, N.Y. — A New York attorney who advertised himself as an adoption expert has been convicted of stealing more than $300,000 from prospective parents for babies that did not exist. Kevin Cohen was convicted Monday in Nassau …
MEDIA: Sierra Leone:Commission to probe Sierra Leone children missing in US
Commission to probe Sierra Leone children missing in US 2010-10-22 (AFP) FREETOWN — Sierra Leone’s Social Welfare Minister Soccoh Kabia announced a probe Friday into “the unknown whereabouts” of 20 children he said were spirited to the United States without the knowledge of their parents. They were allegedly taken for adoption from couples who had handed them to a local …
Sierra Leone: Adoptive Mother Speaks Out
This posting was on the Yahoo group Global_Adoption_Triad, and PEAR has been given permission by the author, Judi Mosley, to post it here. Members of PEAR’s board have known Judi for many years and consider her one of our major inspirations. Her daughter Camryn, adopted from Cambodia, was trafficked by Lauryn Galindo, and Camryn’s victim statement can be found here: …
Voices of the Adoption Triad: Elizabeth Meunzler, Adoptive Parent
Voices of the Triad: Adoptive Parent, Elizabeth Muenzler discusses her family’s experience after the airing of 48 Hours segment on FOC and corrupted Samoan adoptions. The Muenzler case was previously published on PEAR’s blog on March 16, 2009 Many thanks to Gina and the PEAR Board for letting me once again address this group. (I previously wrote on the blog …
DOS Adoption Notice – Cameroon Adoption Scams
Adoption Notice U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEBureau of Consular AffairsOffice of Children’s Issues Internet Adoption Fraud Scams on Rise March 19, 2010 The Department of State is aware of a growing number of Internet scams offering to match prospective adoptive parents with a child who is allegedly available for adoption in Cameroon. Americans should be extremely cautious about sending money to …
DOS Responds to Questions re: Nam Dinh Adoptions
Below is the text of an email from the DOS responding to PEAR’s questions concerning notification of families and children involved in the adoption cases leading to the recent criminal convictions in Vietnam Dear Ms. Weeks, Thank you for your inquiry regarding the recent convictions of individuals involved in adoption fraud in Vietnam. You have raised some important questions. Below …
The best interests of the child: Children stolen for adoption- Guatemala and beyond
In 2006, 4 Guatemalan girls were stolen from their mothers. One of those girls was identified just prior to adoption and returned to her mother Ana Escobar. The other 3 girls are believed to be adopted by US adoptive parents who, through no fault of their own, are now faced with difficult issues. I cannot imagine the fear, anger, and …