What warning signs should couples look for in adoption agents?

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Couples should watch for specific warning signs in adoption agents, including lack of regulation and transparency

Couples looking to adopt should treat unregulated adoption agents and any push to bypass safeguards as red flags. In Singapore-related cases linked to an alleged baby-trafficking syndicate, warning signs included missing paperwork, a lack of information about the child, and reliance on agents who could not provide transparent documentation. Legal experts also highlighted warning patterns such as misleading background information and suggestions that the process can be “expedited” through shortcuts.
Unregulated agencies and missing paperwork
One warning sign is using agencies that are not properly regulated. In the Johor Bahru incident, a couple was approached without the expected paperwork and with no clear information about the child, and they left when the woman’s instruction came without documentation.
Misleading background information about the child or process
Another red flag is misleading background information from an agent. The same case involved a “total void of information about the child,” and legal experts stressed that incomplete or inaccurate details undermine the legitimacy of the adoption process.
Any suggestion to “expedite” the process through shortcuts
Couples should also be cautious if an agent suggests the adoption can be sped up through shortcuts. Family lawyer Shaun Ho warned that some agencies may try to circumvent rigorous checks by making the process seem easier, which increases the risk that the adoption becomes illegal.
Lack of transparency and limited disclosure during the process
A further warning sign is limited information and poor transparency from the agent. Another couple described feeling “at the mercy of the agent” during a Vietnam attempt, citing limited information and a lack of transparency, including uncertainty close to the child’s expected arrival in Singapore.

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What warning signs should couples look for in adoption agents?

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