Romance scammers have drained more than $9 million from victims who were mostly older Americans.
Twin brothers Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, of Ghana and Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, 53, of Kula, Hawaii have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
The scheme ran from July of 2024 to April of 2026 and hit victims in 25 US states as well as Germany and Austria.
Court documents say the group used fake personas on dating sites and social media to build close, often romantic relationships with victims.
After hearing made-up stories, victims wired money to accounts controlled by members of the network, and some of it was passed on to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
Jamal Abubakari went by the name “Arrangement” while Kamal Abubakari went by “Lancaster.”
More than 130 victims were defrauded in all, reports USA Today.
The outlet reports the group sometimes used AI-driven video to talk with victims and claimed to need money for medical emergencies, investments and travel costs to visit them.
Say the prosecutors,
“The consequences of this conduct are all-encompassing. Victims report that they are left with absolutely nothing to sustain their lives going forward after a lifetime of work and saving…
In addition, individual victims are ashamed and deprived of the trust they once had in their fellow human beings.”
As part of their plea deals, the three agreed to forfeit jewelry seized when they were arrested, including luxury watches, rings, earrings, medallions and chains.
Federal authorities say other members of the network are awaiting extradition from Ghana, where a Lamborghini, a Mercedes-Benz, a BMW and a Tesla Cybertruck were seized.
Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for February of 2027.
Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram
Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any assets including cryptocurrencies, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.
The post Ghana Twins and Hawaii Woman Drains More Than $9,000,000 in Romance Scam That Targeted Mostly Elderly Victims appeared first on The Daily Hodl.
Comments (0)
Please sign in to comment.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment.