Frederick Kumi, a 31-year-old man from Swedru in Ghana, has been arrested for his alleged role in an $8 million romance fraud scheme that targeted elderly individuals in the United States.
A recently unsealed U.S. federal indictment identifies him under multiple aliases, including Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and Abu Trica.
The charge sheet states that Kumi was part of a criminal syndicate that, from 2023, used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to fabricate online identities and lure victims into fake romantic relationships.
The group allegedly approached older adults on dating sites and social media, gradually earning their trust through regular phone conversations, emails, and chats.
Once trust was established, they requested money or valuables under misleading claims such as medical emergencies, travel needs, or investment prospects.
According to prosecutors, the money and items obtained were transferred to collaborators in Ghana and other locations.
Here is whyKumi now faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and forfeiture, offences that could result in up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty.
U.S. authorities stressed that an indictment only outlines allegations and does not equate to guilt; Kumi will receive a fair trial, during which prosecutors must establish his involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case, handled by the FBI’s Cleveland Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough of the Northern District of Ohio, received significant support from Ghanaian institutions. These include the Attorney General’s Office, EOCO, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, NACOC, and the National Intelligence Bureau.
This prosecution falls under the Elder Justice Initiative, launched under the U.S. Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017, which focuses on combating fraud, abuse, and exploitation of older adults.
Kumi was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, and investigations are ongoing to identify other accomplices and retrieve the stolen funds.