Articles from May 2008

I called Detective Hudson back a few minutes ago – he gave me an update and asked for some information. I was quite happy to oblige, really. Apparently this woman who was defrauding couples has actually done this before. In this case, she was actually saying her name was Jennifer Silver (since I guess I didn’t crop that out on the photos online – oops.)

At any rate, he asked if I would be willing to be listed as a ‘victim’ in the case – which is helpful for them in building the case and proving that the woman is not, in fact, me. The victimization is basically one of stealing my identity. I asked what would be involved for me, and he said that I may have to fly down to Texas to testify in the trial, which apparently wouldn’t happen for at least a year. Federal court, he tells me, moves very slowly.

I said he could list me as a victim in the case (I like to be helpful, after all, and I’m all about justice and such.) An FBI agent actually takes over from here, but Hudson said if I had any more questions I was welcome to call and ask him. He really was quite nice.

A trip to texas may be in my future next year. He assured me that they would pay for the flight. Life can be such an adventure!

I have a very strange and surreal tale to share with you. The weirdest part is that it’s all true.

There were a bunch of messages on my home phone yesterday from the manager at North Shore X-ray, where I go to get ultrasounds done. She assured me in the message that there was nothing wrong with the baby, but it was very, very important that I phone her back as soon as I could. She even gave me her cell number to make sure I got in touch with her, and at one point called after Adam had arrived at home and made him promise that I would call (she wouldn’t tell him what was up either.)

Wondering what was going on, I phoned her as soon as I got in the door.

She told me that she had received a call from a Sheriff’s office in Placer County, California, and had confirmed with the RCMP that it was a legitimate call. They had just arrested someone in Alice, Texas, on several counts of fraud. Apparently a woman had been contacting adoption agencies, saying she was pregnant and wanted to give up her child for adoption. She sent them a bunch of paperwork and the adoption places put her in contact with a few hopeful people who wished to adopt. Here’s an excerpt from the Press Release:

The suspect asked for monetary expenses to be covered and the victims forwarded these funds to her. Victims in Placer County flew to San Antonio to be present for the birth of the child only to find that they had been defrauded. Another victim was due to fly to San Antonio on May 21st but they were contacted by The Placer County Sheriff’s Department and advised of the scheme.

Placer County Detectives and the FBI arranged for what the suspect thought would be a delivering of the birthing expense money. When the suspect arrived to pick up the money she was taken into custody.

So here’s where it gets weird.

They started investigating the documents and paperwork she had sent to the hopeful future adoptive parents, and traced an ultrasound picture back to the North Shore X-Ray clinic. They called the clinic and spoke to the manager there, who looked up the file and found out it was the Ultra Magnus ultrasound. I’m going to have to assume the woman in Texas got them off Flickr, since they’re not exactly hidden or anything. She couldn’t give out my contact information (with good reason; privacy laws forbid such things) but took his number and said she would contact me and have me call them if I wanted to.

Fast forward to this morning. I’m sitting here with a California number in hand for a detective Jim Hudson. I just called him a few minutes ago; it was a very T.V. moment, because he answered the phone by just saying “Hudson.” For some reason I thought I was going to get a switchboard or receptionist or something, so it threw me off for a second. I told him where I was calling from and he sounded pleased to hear from me, but told me that he was just in the middle of something else right now and could he call me back in a few minutes?

So now I’m just waiting for him to call me back.

Just. Plain. Weird.

I’ll let you know what happens next… I’m keeping this friends-only until I know more, I think.