Desperate NZ couple fooled by 'surrogate'

Audrey Magallon. Photo / Supplied

A Helensville couple desperate for a baby advertised on the internet for a surrogate mother to carry the child, only to have an American woman fake the pregnancy and steal their money.

The couple - a man in his late 20s and a woman in her 40s - contacted police in Astoria, in the northwestern sate of Oregon, informing them of 31-year-old Audrey Magallon's deception.

After placing an ad on the craigslist website, the couple were contacted by Magallon who offered to be a surrogate mother.

She accepted at least $2000 from them.

The couple also sent a special container used to ship biological materials, that they said Magallon had received but not returned.

The deposit on the device was understood to be more than $2500.

Alan Oja of Astoria Police said Magallon sent fake ultrasound pictures to the couple, who falsely believed she was carrying their child.

"The woman actually sent ultrasound pictures that were not real. She'd had four children before and she sent one of their ultrasound and doctored it up to make it look current."

Magallon's oldest child is believed to be about 8 years old, the youngest a 5-month-old baby.

Mr Oja didn't believe Magallon's husband was father to any of them.

She has been charged with one count of theft and one of identity theft. The maximum penalty is five years in jail or a $125,000 fine.

Police are investigating further allegations against Magallon from another couple from Washington state.

"We became aware late last week there is a second couple in the state of Washington reporting similar circumstances. They also made payments up front and continued to make payments in the belief she was pregnant with their child.

"In both cases there was no intent on her part to get pregnant and be a surrogate."

She was to be arraigned yesterday afternoon, but Mr Oja was not sure if she was released on bail.

The Daily Astorian newspaper reported Magallon was also charged with violating a release agreement, relating to an assault charge not connected to the pregnancy case.

Asked what Magallon's demeanour was after her arrest Mr Oja said an officer told him she,"didn't think it was a big deal - she was rather indifferent".

She is unemployed but formerly worked as a receptionist at a sleep clinic.

Mr Oja said he wasn't sure if Magallon's children were with her husband but they were in his care when she was arrested.

Magallon's husband, who works for the United States Coastguard, hadn't been charged last night.

"At this point he's not been charged with anything. At least with the Washington couple we think he was aware of something going on, but he's not been charged with anything."

He said the police inquiry was in its early stages.

"There's more investigation to do. I'm believing there will probably be more charges, but there's [more work] to do. We only know of the two couples but there's a possibility she's done this to other people."