Two Ghanaian twin brothers and an American woman have admitted their roles in an international romance fraud scheme that cost victims in the United States and Europe a combined $9 million.
The accused, 22-year-old brothers Jamal and Kamal Abubakari and 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie of Hawaii, pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal network that exploited people seeking relationships online, the BBC reported. They face up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for next year.
Prosecutors said the group used dating platforms and social media to approach elderly victims, building false romantic relationships through fabricated identities. Once the victims had been drawn in, the suspects allegedly persuaded them to send substantial sums of money to bank accounts in Ghana.
The scheme operated between July 2024 and April 2026, leaving victims with collective losses of $9 million (£6.7 million).
Ohio, where the charges were filed, accounted for many of those affected. However, the alleged fraud extended well beyond the state, with victims identified in 24 other US states, as well as Germany and Austria.
As part of their guilty pleas, the three defendants agreed to surrender jewellery seized by investigators during their arrests. The items included luxury watches, rings, chains and earrings.
Authorities have identified the defendants by several names. Jamal Abubakari is also known as Jamal Abubakar and Arrangement, while his twin brother, Kamal Abubakari, has used the names Kamal Abubakar and Lancaster.
Opoku-Boachie has also gone by Amanda Joy Glum and Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman.
The case comes as American authorities increase efforts to dismantle criminal networks accused of targeting elderly citizens through online scams, including operations with links to the United States and West Africa.
Earlier this month, FBI Director Kash Patel announced hundreds of arrests following the dismantling of a scam centre in Ghana, highlighting the growing focus on cross-border fraud operations.
Another high-profile case involves Ghanaian social media influencer Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, who was extradited to the United States in June to face charges linked to an alleged romance fraud operation.
US prosecutors accuse Kumi of participating in a scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of more than $8 million (£5.9 million). Investigators allege that he used social media and online dating platforms to establish contact with victims before requesting money or valuables under false pretences, including claims of urgent medical needs.
The prosecution is proceeding under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, which addresses offences involving the exploitation of older people. Kumi has denied all charges against him.
The guilty pleas by the Abubakari brothers and Opoku-Boachie add to a series of cases drawing attention to the financial and emotional toll of romance scams. By exploiting trust and the desire for companionship, such schemes can leave victims facing substantial financial losses while making it difficult for investigators to trace money moved across international borders.
