Ghanaian 'Abu Trica' charged in US for $8M romance scam on elderly

Ghanaian Social Media Influencer 'Abu Trica' Arrested and Indicted in $8 Million AI-Powered Romance Scam Targeting Elderly Americans
Ghanaian 'Abu Trica' charged in US for $8M romance scam on elderly
In a major crackdown on international cyber fraud, U.S. authorities have charged Frederick Kumi , a 31-year-old Ghanaian national known online as " Abu Trica ," with orchestrating a sophisticated romance scam that defrauded elderly victims of more than $8 million. 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. 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…