Twin brothers and an American woman pleaded guilty to a $9 million romance scam that targeted elderly victims across the globe.
Two twin brothers from Ghana and a woman from Hawaii recently pleaded guilty to fraud. The group participated in a large international criminal network. They targeted people on social media and dating websites.
Also, the scammers focused on elderly victims in the United States and Europe. They created fake identities to trick people into romantic relationships. Then, they convinced the victims to send large amounts of money to Ghana.
Next, Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, both 22, admitted their roles in the crime. Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, age 53, also pleaded guilty. These individuals face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Meanwhile, the authorities set a sentencing date for next year. The victims lost a total of $9 million between July 2024 and April 2026. Many of the affected people lived in Ohio.
However, the scheme reached far beyond one state. Victims lived in 24 other American states. People in Germany and Austria also suffered financial losses from this group.
As part of their plea deal, the group agreed to give up seized assets. Investigators took luxury watches, jewelry, and gold chains during the arrests. They will forfeit these items to the government.
After that, the court records revealed the defendants used several aliases. Jamal went by "Arrangement" while Kamal used the name "Lancaster." Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie also used multiple false names.
Now, US officials are increasing efforts to stop these international operations. They aim to protect elderly citizens from West African cyber-crime networks. Recently, the FBI arrested hundreds of people in a related case.
Finally, the government continues to prosecute similar cases under elder abuse laws. Another Ghanaian influencer faces trial for a separate $8 million romance scam. Authorities remain committed to dismantling these criminal rings worldwide.