A series of indictments unsealed in various U.S. District Courts have revealed the involvement of several Ghanaian nationals in extensive romance and inheritance fraud schemes targeting elderly victims in the United States and beyond.
According to multiple court documents cited by Now Accra, the schemes span over a decade, from as early as 2013 through March 2024. The defendants reportedly engaged in wire fraud and money laundering operations by deceiving victims under the guise of romantic relationships and false inheritance claims.
Key Cases Highlighted:
• United States v. Dwayne Asafo Adjei et al:
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On June 4, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio unsealed a superseding indictment charging David Onyinye Abuanekwu, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, and Nader Wasif with wire fraud offences. The group allegedly orchestrated romance scams by pretending to possess gold, jewels, and other assets, ultimately defrauding victims through elaborate deceit.
What does this mean for you?
When citizens of a country are implicated in international fraud cases, it affects how other nations and their people perceive that country. Ghana has long been celebrated for its hospitality, peace, and growing international respect — but high-profile fraud cases like these risk tarnishing that image, especially among foreign investors and travelers.
In addition, whenever fraud schemes are traced to a particular group or nationality, ordinary citizens from that country often face tougher immigration processes, visa restrictions, and suspicion abroad. Law-abiding Ghanaians traveling, studying, or working overseas could experience increased questioning, background checks, or even prejudice due to the actions of a few.
• United States v. Otuo Amponsah et al:
A similar indictment was unsealed on May 13 against Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Hannah Adom, Portia Joe, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, and, again, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
• United States v. Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng:
On May 30, a grand jury in the District of Arizona charged Joseph Boateng, widely known as “Dada Joe Remix,” with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Boateng, a Ghanaian citizen, was accused of operating similar scams targeting elderly Americans.
The fraud operations typically involved gaining the trust of vulnerable, often elderly, individuals in the United States through online romance scams, according to justice.org. The perpetrators fabricated stories of wealth, inheritance, or dire situations, eventually convincing victims to send money under false pretenses.
The illegally obtained funds were then transferred to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
The cases were said to have been thoroughly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Ohio and Arizona with support from the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) in Ghana. The revelations have facilitated a significant online discourse, especially among Ghanaians, as several of the accused individuals have ties to prominent social circles both in Ghana and abroad.
In addition, three Ghanaians, including a real estate mogul and a socialite, Kofi Boat, are facing extradition to the United States for their involvement in a $100M fraud scheme.
