$100 Million Stolen Through Romance Scams And Other Fraud: Ghanaian Nationals Extradited For Roles In Criminal Organization

By: Justice.Gov

Cyber Crime has real world consequences. The FBI and its fellow agencies are partnering with Ghana to ensure that cyber criminals – wherever they are – face justice.

In August, Ghanaian authorities successfully transferred custody of three indicted individuals – Isaac Oduro Boateng (aka Kofi Boat), Inusah Ahmed (aka Pascal), and Derrick Van Yeboah – to the FBI at Kotoka International Airport for extradition to the United States.

The three were indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on wire fraud and money laundering charges – they conducted romance scams and business email compromises, stealing over $100 million from dozens of victims.

Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved the formal extradition request from the United States.

Many of the conspiracy’s victims were vulnerable older men and women who were tricked into believing that they were in online romantic relationships with people who were, in fact, fake identities assumed by members of the conspiracy.

Once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims. 

The conspirators also committed business email compromises to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds to the enterprise. 

In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims.

After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa, where they were largely funneled to individuals called “chairmen,” who directed the activities of other members of the conspiracy.  BOATENG and AHMED were considered chairmen of the organization.