Ghanaian twin brothers and US woman plead guilty to $9m romance scam
The group targeted elderly people across US and Europe, luring them into romantic relationship before persuading them to transfer large sums of money.
Ghanaian twin brothers and US woman plead guilty to $9m romance scam
Twin brothers from Ghana and an American woman have admitted charges that they were part of an international criminal network that cheated people they contacted on dating sites and social media.
The group focused on elderly people in the US and Europe, using false identities to draw victims into believing they were in a romantic relationship, before convincing them to send large sums of money to bank accounts in Ghana.
The 22-year-old twins, Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, and 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie from Hawaii face up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced next year.
Between July 2024 and April 2026, the victims together lost $9m (£6.7m).
Although many of the victims were from Ohio, where the charges were filed, others were found in 24 additional US states, as well as Germany and Austria.
As part of the plea agreement, the Abubakaris and Opoku-Boachie agreed to surrender pieces of jewellery seized by investigators when they were arrested, including luxury watches, rings, chains and earrings.
In recent months, US authorities have intensified their crackdown on criminal networks operating in the US and West Africa that aim to defraud elderly Americans.
Earlier this month, FBI Director Kash Patel said hundreds of arrests had been made after a scam centre in Ghana was dismantled.
In June, a Ghanaian social media influencer known as Abu Trica, whose real name is Frederick Kumi, was extradited to the US to stand trial for allegedly running a romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans of more than $8m (£5.9m).
He targeted victims through social media and online dating platforms, and is accused of asking for money or valuables under false pretences, including urgent medical needs.
The case against Kumi is being prosecuted under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution law. He denies all the charges against him.