Three plead guilty in $9m romance fraud scam targeting elderly Americans

Three people have pleaded guilty in a $9m romance fraud scam that targeted elderly Americans.On Monday, the US attorney’s office in the northern district of Ohio announced that twin brothers from Ghana and an American woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.Identified as 22-year-old Jamal Abubakari, 22-year-old Kamal Abubakari and 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie of Kula, Hawaii, the trio targeted more than 130 victims in 25 states, as well as in Germany and Austria.The Abubakaris and Opoku-Boachie targeted older Americans on dating websites and social media platforms from July 2024 to April 2026, conspiring with others to “fake personas to establish close, personal relationships with the victims which were often romantic in nature”, according to the justice department.The trio at times used “artificial intelligence-driven video platforms to engage victims under fictitious female personas”, the j ustice department said.The victims, after being misled by false stories, would then wire money to bank accounts controlled by the conspiracy members, with portions of the funds also being distributed to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.As part of their scheme, the trio said they allegedly needed the money for medical emergencies, investment opportunities or travel fees to visit the victims, according to court documents reviewed by outlets.“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,” prosecutors said in the documents.In total, the victims lost more than $9m, the justice department said.As part of their plea agreement, the Abubakaris and Opoku-Boachie agreed to forfeit jewellry which investigators seized at the time of their arrests, including luxury timepieces, as well as high-end watches, rings, chains, medallions and earrings.They face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, with sentencing for the brothers scheduled for 9 February 2027 and 10 February 2027 for Opoku-Boachie.Other co-conspirators are awaiting extradition from Ghana where seized assets estimated to be worth more than $3m include a Lamborghini, a Tesla Cybertruck, a Mercedes-Benz and a BMW, the justice department said.