Guest Blog: Don't Get Scammed in Adoption Like I Did
Today we have an important and emotional Guest Blog from Teresa Legler, who shares her struggles with dishonest people and adoption scams while in pursuit of her dream to become a mother, in the hopes that others will learn from her experiences, and not have to endure the same pain and suffering as she has had to face.
Hello. I live in Canada. For the past 20 years all I have ever wanted is to be a mother, which is not physically possible for me so in the past few years I have been trying to adopt with unfortunate results. One baby was stillborn the second at the last minute the birth mother changed her mind without letting me know.
By the end of last year I was heartbroken and becoming more desperate to become a mother since I just turned 45.
After a few days she told me she had decided I was the person she wanted to raise her son. It was the happiest time of my life. She gave me the name of a lawyer she said her Pastor had given her stating he would help with the adoption.
The Lawyer's name is "Michel Nkenko" from the Charity Lawyers House in Maroua Cameroon. They have a website I have his phone numbers I spoke with this man and I have over 130 emails outlining the adoption process the documents required etc. At the time he told me the cost of the adoption would be $6200.00 USD.
On December 23, 2008 I received a call during the "second" adoption hearing. The Judge asked me all kinds of questions. Everything seemed so real.
I received a copy of the new Birth Certificate with the name changed, pictures of the Social Worker who would be traveling with my new son to Canada. Her name is Mrs. Evaline Tata.
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Tags: Adoption Scam, Cameroon, charity lawyers house, clara banks, Guest Blog, michel nkenko, scam, Teresa Legler
Hi Teresa,
I am so sorry for what has happened to you. Thanks so much for sharing this story. I responded to this lady's ad!!! My sister-in-law saw the ad and sent it to me. I was skeptical but thought an email couldn't hurt. She emailed me back today and some things she said made me uncomfortable so I googled her name and saw your post. Same name, same baby name - Phillip and same sad story but with a few details changed. You may have saved my family a lot of money and heart-break by posting this. I am wondering - did you call the police and did they do an investigation? I was thinking that maybe they could bust her through me?
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Hello
I am sorry I took so long to get back to you however could you please lok at my web page on facebook, I started a webpage called "Avoiding Adoption Scams". There is also a link from my own page, Teresa Legler. There are a number of people who have been involved with these people. There is also a link to a site to an enforcement agency dealing with this case.
Having been scammed once - albeit for only $100 USD - I understand the pain and mistrust that it causes. I find it appalling and unfortunate that people find it necessary to make money in this fashion. While I thought scams from Cameroon were well-known, this reminds me that the opposite is true.
Thank you for sharing your story. In addition to writing for Adoption Under One Roof (see guestblogger Michael) and writing my own family blog detailing our adventures as parents (www.mikeandmichael.info/blog), I occasionally write for Proud Parenting as well. In an effort to educate more people, I have posted a link to your story on Proud Parenting.
I would like to say that Zoie Browns accusations and statements about Orson molesting her are lies and totally false. I always know when Zoie is lying because her lips are moving. Since a very young child she has always lied. Orson served as someone she could blame for her arrests, felony charges and drug use and when she was caught and went to court she blamed him and got a lighter sentence.The real reason for her actions stem from anger about not getting the child support she thinks she deserves. These were moneys that her Mom took as alimony when she sold their house. Zoie also craves attention and she will do anything to get it, negative or positive. The judge said it is actually criminal to put alimony before child support to Christen in court but she did. She took the money from the house sale and used it as alimony. More than $400,000 of the house sale was Orson’s. He left a letter designating Christen Brown to pay his debts after the house sale, which the judge brought up in court. This was never known. Christen should have given that money to the adoption clients and not used it as alimony. The year before he left he wanted to pay back clients but Christen said screw the clients She has contracts! She kept all the monies and proclaimed him the villain after he left. They adopted Zoie at about a year old and Christen also claimed Zoie was molested in the orphanage; how; her fortune teller again confirmed it. Zoie at two years old went into therapy???????????? I thought it was ridiculous. Orson never expected a warrant to be issued after he left! Christen and Orson at that point in almost 20 years had done over 1000 adoptions. When another agency paid money to the Kazakhstan government to get their agency out of Kazakhstan it resulted in problems for them and all their adoptions. I was sure Christen would pay his money back to clients instead of blaming him and hoping he would never come back. Before the first hearing Christen threatened Orson's attorney that if he testifies she will bring up molestation allegations; the Judge never let her because everyone knew it was a threat and unfounded. I think her revenge has backfired. The judge found Christen complicit of fraud in court and the Queen of Greed; Christen could not get the money he designated go back to clients. She was furious! She even took it to the court of appeals and lost! Even more furious when he pleaded guilty; instead of no contest; so clients could use everything said in court in their civil suit against her. Orson pleaded guilty because to fight his case would have taken two years and he did not have the bail to get out of jail. He knew he would have to serve only one year and half if he pleaded guilty or no contest so he did. Before he was found; Christen said if he ever came back she would destroy him; he knows now it is because her story of being the innocent spouse would be taken apart, as it was when she went to court to claim the client’s money as hers or child support. I guess this molestation petition and site is all part of their revenge. It states on the site that Zoie and Christen have this site together. Zoie is a drug addict and fought two felonies; she spent two years in a residential treatment center for drugs. She had severe delays from the orphanage etc. and has always had problems. I will not mention them all because there is no use dragging her through the mud. It is a shame that Christen is using Zoie to spread lies. Orson regret’s leaving and causing pain to ex clients. Trusting Christen Brown the Queen of Greed to do the right thing!
Mic