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Two Ghanaian twins and an American woman have pleaded guilty in a United States court for their roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving a US$9 million romance scam. Jamal and Kamal Abubakari, along with Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, admitted to the charges following an investigation into a scheme that targeted vulnerable individuals, primarily the elderly, over a period of nearly two years.
The fraudulent operation was active between July 2024 and April 2026. The group utilized various dating websites to establish false romantic relationships with their victims. Once trust was established, they manipulated the victims into transferring significant sums of money. The reach of the scam extended beyond the United States, with the investigation identifying victims in Germany and Austria who were also defrauded by the syndicate.
As part of the plea agreement, the defendants are required to forfeit several luxury items that were seized during the investigation. These assets are believed to have been purchased with the proceeds of the US$9 million fraud. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of international cybercrime and the specific targeting of senior citizens in romance-based financial schemes. All three defendants now await sentencing for their involvement in the criminal enterprise.