Twin brothers and an American woman pleaded guilty to a romance scam that cost victims $9 million. They targeted elderly people on dating sites.
Twin brothers from Ghana and one American woman admitted to running a romance scam. They operated an international criminal network. The group targeted victims on dating sites and social media.
Also, the scammers focused on elderly people in the United States and Europe. They created fake identities to start fake romantic relationships. Then, they convinced the victims to send large amounts of money to Ghana.
Next, Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, entered their guilty pleas. Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, a 53-year-old from Hawaii, also pleaded guilty. They face up to 20 years in prison.
Meanwhile, the victims lost a total of $9 million between 2024 and 2026. Many victims lived in Ohio. Others resided in 24 different U.S. states, Germany, and Austria.
After that, the court ordered the trio to forfeit jewelry seized during their arrests. This included luxury watches, rings, chains, and earrings. Authorities recovered these items as part of the legal process.
Furthermore, the defendants used several different aliases. Jamal went by the names Jamal Abubakar and Arrangement. Kamal used the names Kamal Abubakar and Lancaster.
Additionally, Opoku-Boachie used names like Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman. These aliases helped them hide their true identities from the people they targeted.
Now, U.S. officials are increasing efforts to stop these criminal networks. They focus on groups in West Africa that target elderly Americans. The FBI recently made hundreds of arrests in a Ghana scam center.
Finally, other cases are moving forward in the justice system. For example, a Ghanaian social media influencer faces charges for an $8 million scam. He denies all allegations against him as the legal process continues.