This is my own personal bias, but I kinda wish there was a special place in hell for folks who scam people trying to adopt.
You may have come across a letter like this recently:
Dear Brothers annd Sisters in Christ,
May the Blessing of the Almighty be with you. I am Rev. Fr. James Nielen, founder of the Child Emancipation Orphanage Center, located in Bamenda-Cameroon. My center is presently striving to see that unfortunate couples, by the special Grace of God to fulfill your desires and dreams of having a child and also have a feel of family life and happiness. We try to do this through our Child Adoption programme we currently offer. This goes out to childless families and also singles whom we deem fit after thorough homestudy that they can take care of the child. If you are out there seeking for a baby, just contact us by email and by the Special Grace of God, we may be able to make your dream come true. our email is childemancipation@yahoo.com.
God Bless you my child
Fr. James N.
Letters like this one have prompted the State Department in Camaroon to issue this warning:
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 any individual in connection with adopting a child they have only corresponded with by e-mail. Cameroonian law requires that prospective adoptive parents MUST travel to Cameroon and participate in person in the legal procedures that govern Cameroonian adoptions. Furthermore, in order for an adoptive or prospective adoptive child to come to the United States to permanently reside, the U.S. citizen adoptive or prospective adoptive parent MUST file an I-600A or I-600 application with the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the child MUST be issued the appropriate immigrant visa by the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde.
The U.S. Embassy in Yaounde maintains a database of aliases and e-mail addresses used by known scam artists that have been brought to its attention. Before sending money to any individual who claims that they can match you with a child in need of a family, please check with the U.S. Embassy first by writing to YaoundeACS@state.gov .
In order to protect yourself and children from the possibility of fraud or other serious problems, prospective adoptive parents are advised to consider first the list of accredited orphanages available through the Ministry of Social Affairs:
Ministry of Social Affairs/High Court (Tribunal de Grande Instance)
Sub-Department of Child Protection (situated at Meki Quarters)
Sous Direction de la Sauvegarde de L’Enfant-SDSE
