FBI indicts two Ghanaian brothers in major romance fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans

Two Ghanaian siblings and a US-based woman have been indicted in Ohio for their alleged roles in an international romance fraud and money laundering ring that prosecutors say preyed on elderly Americans via dating websites and social media.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio unsealed the indictment in the case of United States v. Jamal Abubakari et al., naming 22-year-old twins Jamal Abubakari and Kamal Abubakari, both Ghanaian nationals, alongside 53-year-old Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, who resides in the United States.

According to US prosecutors, the three suspects were arrested in Virginia and remain in custody pending further court proceedings.

How the Scheme Operated

The indictment alleges that between July 2024 and April 2026, the accused participated in a criminal network that used fake identities and fabricated romantic relationships to manipulate victims emotionally. Investigators say the suspects, most of whom targeted elderly Americans, would build trust through online interactions before requesting money under false pretences.

Prosecutors claim that portions of the funds obtained through the scheme were subsequently transferred to co-conspirators in Ghana and other countries.

Part of a Wider Crackdown

The case is one of several related investigations being coordinated before a single US District Judge, following what authorities describe as recurring criminal patterns linked to romance fraud operations targeting older Americans.

US authorities disclosed that nine defendants connected to similar Ghana-linked romance fraud conspiracies have already pleaded guilty and collectively received prison sentences totalling about 50 years.

Among previously convicted individuals named by prosecutors were Ghanaian nationals Dwayne Asafo Adjei, Otuo Amponsah and Kelvin Asmah, as well as several US-based accomplices accused of wire fraud and money laundering.

Collaborative Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Division is leading the investigation, with support from several Ghanaian institutions, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Narcotics Control Commission and the Ghana Immigration Service.

The US Department of Justice also acknowledged assistance from Ghana’s Attorney-General’s Office and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.

The latest indictment forms part of the United States’ Elder Justice Initiative – a programme established under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 to combat financial exploitation, scams and fraud targeting elderly persons.

US prosecutors stressed that the indictment remains an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, the accused could face penalties determined by the court based on the scale of the offences, their individual roles and any prior criminal records.