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| Name: luckey_in_life | Date: Nov 8th, 2006 7:53 PM |
| This was in the local newspaper about an adoption gone wrong. It is disgusting to say the least: ********** Source: [http://www .heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0 ,5478,12535348%255E2862,00.html] Couple conned in internet baby deal Shelley Hodgson and Nick Papps in Los Angeles 14mar05 A MELBOURNE woman has been caught in an international baby scam on the internet. Allyson Ball-Rizvi and Arshad Rizvi were expecting a newborn girl this week after promises from a Californian woman. But the devastated Melbourne couple discovered a week ago that the child, born in late February, was a surrogate always intended for a United States couple. Becky Limbrick, of California, claimed she was helping them adopt from a pregnant woman in Alabama. But Ms Ball-Rizvi believes she has been duped. The Reservoir couple were supposed to hand over $US4500 and have already paid $1600 for bills and an airfare for Ms Limbrick's husband to collect the baby. They had already named the child Brianna Amisha and had bought clothes, a cot, bouncer, bassinet, a pram, bottles and nappies. "This is just so sick," Ms Ball-Rizvi said. "There's people out there that see someone's this desperate and they think, 'I can sucker someone'." Ms Ball-Rizvi began speaking to Ms Limbrick through Surrogate Mothers Online about a year ago. Last month, Ms Limbrick told Ms Ball-Rizvi that she could help her adopt a baby for US$4500 ($5700). The adoption would be illegitimate under Victorian law, but Ms Ball-Rizvi said she was unaware of this. Ms Limbrick told her to come up with a name for the birth certificate and she would get adoption paperwork drawn up. In ensuing weeks, arrangements were made for Ms Limbrick's husband, Leon, to fly from California to Alabama to collect "Brianna". Ms Limbrick sent Ms Ball-Rizvi photos of the pregnant woman's stomach, an ultrasound photo marked with the name Catherine Bell and a photo of the pregnant woman and her young son. s Ball-Rizvi transferred $1270 to Ms Limbrick and paid for Mr Limbrick's airfare to Alabama to pick up Brianna on March 4, when Ms Bell was to be induced. Ms Limbrick claimed she met other costs, including paying Ms Bell's bills and birth expenses and the fare to Australia. Ms Ball-Rizvi was to give Mr Limbrick a further $3500 when he arrived in Australia and the rest on a payment plan. "I thought it was a miracle come true," she said. But on March 5, Ms Ball-Rizvi received an email from Ms Limbrick saying her husband was at the hospital and could not find "Cat". The Brookwood Medical Inn in Alabama confirmed that a Leon Limbrick stayed on March 4. The scam was uncovered when Ms Ball-Rizvi forwarded the ultrasound photograph to a woman she met on Surrogate Mothers Online. Ms Bell's ultrasound picture and other photographs of her had been posted on the internet, and her pregnancy and surrogacy agreement with another couple was on the message board. Ms Bell believes her identity and photos were stolen and used to lure Ms Ball-Rizvi. "I have been online for almost two years now and been very open about everything and that was a big mistake," Ms Bell said. "I have never been shy about putting any of my information out there." Ms Bell said the first she heard of Ms Ball-Rizvi and the adoption plan was on the internet a week ago. "I thoroughly believe that she has been scammed," Ms Bell said. "It's really sad." "There's been a lot of holes in her (Ms Limbrick's) story and she changes her story a lot." Ms Limbrick forwarded an email from a Tracey Blackburn to Australia, with an ultrasound photograph attached. It listed Ms Bell's expenses to be paid. Two of the bills are on Ms Bell's online billpay. Ms Limbrick has repeatedly claimed that she has done nothing wrong. Under the username "sydnee", Ms Limbrick has posted a message on SMO warning other parents to beware of Catherine Bell: "This baby was promised to my family and only this weekend we found out that there was no baby . . . after staying at the hospital through the weekend waiting for our daughter to be born." Ms Limbrick told the Herald Sun she had not ripped off Ms Ball-Rizvi. The 32-year-old from Murrieta, southeast of Los Angeles, said she too was a victim of "Cat". "She (Ms Ball-Rizvi) is blaming the wrong person," Ms Limbrick said. "I didn't do anything wrong." Ms Limbrick said she had planned to adopt a child from Ms Bell, but found a baby earlier. She then helped Ms Ball-Rizvi to adopt Ms Bell's baby. "We are not adoption facilitators," she said. "We were just trying to help a friend." Ms Limbrick said she and her husband were owed some $6300 by Ms Ball-Rizvi. She admitted Ms Ball-Rizvi sent US$900 to her, but said when the baby did not materialise, she offered to repay it. "She said, 'You keep it," Ms Limbrick said. ↑ |
| Name: Carolyn | Date: Nov 8th, 2006 8:47 PM |
| We are not interested. It has nothing to do with momof1, and she is legitimate. The only reason you keep bringing up surrogacy is your lame attempt to discredit momof1, which will not work. ↑ |
| Name: Deanna | Date: Nov 8th, 2006 10:05 PM |
| We are glad they got caught. Too bad you didn't help to get the real scammers off the streets. ↑ |
| Name: me2 | Date: Nov 8th, 2006 10:42 PM |
| Glad she is finally getting her just reward. ↑ |
| Name: juliedunesnet | Date: Nov 8th, 2006 10:51 PM |
| It seems Luckey is learning how to research (obviously a new skill for her). Pity she doesn't do it thoroughly. ↑ |
| Name: duskinrose | Date: Feb 21st, 2011 6:05 AM |
| Becky Limbrick is my mother and it is true about her doing a scam. That is all she does. If it is not a scam than it is taking identities and not only of random people, but family as well!!!!!! Now she goes by Becky Waldie. and if you google her she will be all over the page. You know it is her if you see Leon Limbrick's name as well. ↑ |
| Name: duskinrose | Date: Oct 29th, 2011 1:10 AM |
| Nevermind, I was wrong ↑ |
