Surrogate escrow company accused of scamming $10 million out of families from Bay Area and beyond

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A Bay Area couple is among hundreds across the country using surrogates to have babies. But they are now caught in a financial nightmare.

A Bay Area couple is one of many across the country who invested surrogate funds into escrow company SEAM, which is now under a fraud investigation.They counted on an escrow company to hold money for the surrogate's fees and medical expenses, but the company has shut down and their money is gone. I-Team reporter Dan Noyes has been working with ABC News and our sister stations across the country on this report.

They used an escrow company out of Houston run by a woman who identified herself as "a former surrogate," Dominique Side.Side said in a promotional video, "I'm the owner of Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, better known as SEAM.

The FBI's Houston Division is trying to identify potential victims, asking them to fill out an online survey, answering questions like "Did you wire money?", "What is the total amount?" and "How much are you owed?" Neither Dominique Side nor a representative attended the hearing, but her music business partner and gospel singer Anthony Hall testified that Side reported herself to the FBI.ABC News and our sister stations across the country have been documenting how this case is growing, interviewing couple after couple who say they've lost money given to the escrow company for safe-keeping.

 

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