Kumi, whose real name is Frederick Kumi and who also goes by Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, in a joint operation involving U.S. and Ghanaian law enforcement agencies.
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| Abu Trica indicted in US for $8m romance fraud, arrested b FBI |
The Allegations and Charges
According to a recently unsealed federal indictment in the Northern District of Ohio, Kumi faces two counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, along with a forfeiture specification.
If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
The charges stem from a criminal enterprise that began in 2023, where Kumi allegedly led a network of scammers preying on vulnerable elderly individuals across the United States.
Prosecutors allege that Kumi and his co-conspirators used advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to generate fake identities and profiles on social media platforms and online dating sites.
These fabricated personas allowed the group to initiate and nurture seemingly genuine romantic relationships with victims through phone calls, emails, text messages, and online chats.
Once trust was established—often through frequent and intimate conversations—the scammers would fabricate emergencies or opportunities to solicit funds.
Common pretexts included medical bills, travel expenses to meet the victim, or lucrative investment schemes.
Victims, primarily elderly and often lonely, were convinced to transfer money, valuables, or financial information, believing they were helping a romantic partner in need.
The funds were then routed through intermediaries in the U.S., particularly in Ohio, before being funneled to Kumi and his associates in Ghana and other locations.
This laundering process helped obscure the origins of the ill-gotten gains.
Abu Trica's Online Persona and Lavish Lifestyle
Kumi, hailing from Swedru in Ghana's Central Region, built a significant following on social media, particularly Snapchat, where he presented himself as a successful young entrepreneur and millionaire.
He frequently flaunted luxury cars, expensive clothing, and extravagant trips, which authorities now claim were funded by the proceeds of his fraudulent activities.
This online image not only boosted his ego but may have served as a recruiting tool or cover for his operations.
The use of AI in the scams highlights a growing trend in cybercrime, where technology enables fraudsters to scale their operations and create more convincing deceptions.
By automating the creation of profiles and possibly even generating responses, the network could target multiple victims simultaneously, amplifying the damage.
