Fertility Inc.: ‘Our Money Was Gone’

The fertility industry's lack of regulation and potential for fraud are examined through the story of AnnaMaria, a cancer survivor who turned to IVF and surrogacy to have children. After a successful first surrogacy, AnnaMaria and her husband used an escrow company, SEEM, to manage funds for a second attempt. The owner of SEEM, Dominique Side, allegedly used the funds from over 600 families—totaling $16 million—to fund her lavish lifestyle and other business ventures, leaving AnnaMaria and her husband without the $50,000 they had saved. Despite the financial loss and emotional toll of multiple miscarriages, AnnaMaria emphasizes the gratitude she feels for her son, Michael, who was born through surrogacy. Wall Street Journal's Ben Foldy discusses the lack of oversight in the surrogacy escrow industry, highlighting how easily individuals can establish escrow companies without regulatory scrutiny.