Ghanaian twin brothers and US woman plead guilty to $9m romance scam

Twin brothers from Ghana and an American woman have pleaded guilty to being part of an international criminal network that defrauded people 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.

Between July 2024 – April 2026, the victims collectively lost $9m (£6.7m).

While many of them were from Ohio – where the charges were brought – other victims were located in 24 other US states, as well as Germany and Austria.

As part of the plea, the Abubakaris and Opoku-Boachie agreed to forfeit pieces of jewellery which investigators seized during their arrest, including luxury watches, rings, chains and earrings.

Jewellery was confiscated from the gang after they were arrested

The three accused 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, 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 more than $8m (£5.9m).

He targeted victims through social media and online dating platforms, and 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.

You may also be interested in:

Ghanaian influencer extradited to US over $8m scam targeting elderly Americans

The ultra-violent cult that became a global mafia

The fake sex chats fuelled by an elaborate scam

Dead in 6 hours: How Nigerian sextortion scammers targeted my son

Mass arrests in global crackdown on West African cyber-crime networks

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external

Related topics

BBC Africa podcasts