ACCRA, Ghana — A popular Ghanaian social media influencer, Frederick Kumi, better known by his online alias Abu Trica, has been arrested in Ghana on allegations of orchestrating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded elderly American citizens of over $8 million (£5.9 million).
The 31-year-old, who has also gone by the name Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, faces serious charges in the US, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
If convicted, Kumi faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.
The mechanics of the AI-powered fraud
Prosecutors allege that Kumi utilized advanced AI tools to create numerous fake online identities. He reportedly targeted victims through various social media platforms and dating sites, working to earn their trust before extorting large sums of money.
Prosecutors detailed the method of operation: “The perpetrators built trust through frequent, intimate conversations by phone, email, and messaging platforms” with victims. They elaborated on the deception used to extract funds: “They then requested money or valuables under false pretences, such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities.”
The money or valuables were then channeled through co-conspirators posing as third parties. Kumi allegedly played a key role in distributing the funds to his associates in both the United States and Ghana.
The case is being prosecuted under the stringent US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution law.
Extradition and public scrutiny
Kumi’s arrest followed a joint operation between US and Ghanaian authorities. The United States is now preparing to seek his extradition to face trial.
The influencer had previously raised suspicions regarding the source of his wealth. Kumi frequently flaunted luxury items online to his substantial following of more than 100,000 Instagram followers, creating a profile of conspicuous wealth.
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This case is part of a broader crackdown by US authorities, who have intensified efforts against criminal networks operating between the US and West Africa that specifically target elderly Americans with fraud schemes.
The effort follows recent high-profile successes:
- In July of this year, an alleged Ghanaian fraudster, popularly known as Dada Joe Remix, was extradited to the US over involvement in romance and inheritance schemes.
- Earlier this month, a Nigerian ringleader, Oluwaseun Adekoya, was sentenced in a US court to 20 years in prison for his role in nationwide bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies that saw over $2 million laundered.
The arrest of Kumi underscores heightened international efforts to combat cross-border fraud targeting vulnerable populations, with authorities emphasizing that such schemes will face severe legal consequences.
