Two Ghanaian Brothers Indicted in U.S. Over Alleged Multi-Million-Dollar Romance Scam
FBI-led investigation links suspects to fraud network targeting elderly victims through fake online relationships.
- Two Ghanaian twins and a U.S.-based woman charged in Ohio romance fraud case.
- Suspects allegedly used fake identities to defraud elderly victims online.
- FBI says network is part of wider global romance scam investigations.
Two Ghanaian brothers, Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, together with a U.S.-based woman, have been indicted in Ohio over their alleged involvement in a multi-million-dollar romance fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly Americans.
The indictment, unsealed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, charges the twins alongside Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie for allegedly running a criminal network that used fake identities and online romance scams to defraud victims.
Prosecutors say the group operated between July 2024 and April 2026, using dating websites and social media platforms to build emotional relationships with mostly elderly victims before persuading them to send money under false pretences.
Investigators allege that funds obtained through the scheme were transferred across multiple accounts, with portions allegedly sent to accomplices in Ghana and other countries.
The defendants were reportedly arrested in Virginia and remain in custody as they await further court proceedings.
U.S. authorities say the case is part of a broader crackdown on romance fraud networks targeting older adults, with several related suspects already convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Federal Bureau of Investigation) is leading the investigation, with support from Ghanaian agencies including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (Economic and Organised Crime Office), the Ghana Police Service, and other national security bodies.
Authorities also confirmed that nine previously linked defendants have already pleaded guilty, receiving a combined total of about 50 years in prison.
Prosecutors emphasised that the current indictment is an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
If convicted, the accused could face significant prison sentences depending on their roles and the scale of the alleged offences.
