Ghanaian twins and US woman plead guilty to romance scams
The group targeted elderly people across US and Europe, luring them into romantic relationship before persuading them to transfer large sums of money.
Twin brothers from Ghana and an American woman have pleaded guilty to charges of being part of an international criminal network which defrauded people they met on dating sites and social media.
The group targeted elderly people in the US and Europe, using fake identities to lure their victims into believing they were in a romantic relationship, before persuading them to transfer large sums of money into bank accounts in Ghana.
The 22-year-old twins, Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, and 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie from Hawaii face up to 20 years in jail and will be sentenced next year.
During the period of July 2024 to April 2026, the victims collectively lost $9m (£6.7m).
While many of the victims were from Ohio - where the charges were brought - people were also located in 24 other US states, Germany and Austria.
As part of the plea, the Abubakaris and Opoku-Boachie agreed to forfeit pieces of jewellery which investigators seized at the time of their arrest, including luxury watches, rings, chains and earrings.
The individuals go by several names:
Jamal Abubakari, also known as Jamal Abubakar and Arrangement
Kamal Abubakari, also known as Kamal Abubakar and Lancaster
Joy Opoku-Boachie, also known as Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman
In recent months the US authorities have stepped up their crackdown on criminal networks operating in the US and West Africa which seek to defraud elderly Americans.
Earlier this month, FBI Director Kash Patel said it had made hundreds of arrests after dismantling a scam centre in Ghana.
In June, a Ghanaian social media influencer known as Abu Trica, whose real name is Frederick Kumi, was extradited to the US to face trial for allegedly running a romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans of over $8m (£5.9m).
He targeted victims through social media and online dating platforms, is accused of requesting money or valuables under false pretences, such as urgent medical needs.
The case against Kumi is being prosecuted under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution law. He denies all the charges against him.
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