US EditionGhana's Abu Trica Charged with Scamming Elderly Americans
Abu Trica faces charges including wire fraud and money laundering after using AI to defraud elderly Americans of over $8 million, authorities said.
- Earlier this month, Frederick Kumi, known as Abu Trica, was arrested in Ghana after a joint operation and the United States will seek his extradition; he faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering with up to 20 years in prison.
- Using fabricated online identities, perpetrators used AI tools to target elderly Americans on social media and dating sites, building trust through intimate conversations before requesting money for fake urgent needs.
- Elderly American victims were allegedly cheated of over $8m, with proceeds routed to co‑conspirators posing as third parties and distributed by Kumi in the US and Ghana.
- The case is being prosecuted under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution law, framing charges as elder-targeted fraud; Kumi has not yet commented as investigators probe sources of his income, joining recent extraditions this year.
- In recent months, US authorities have stepped up crackdowns on criminal networks operating between the US and West Africa that target elderly Americans, following extraditions this year and Oluwaseun Adekoya's 20-year sentence earlier this month.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Ghanaian influencer accused romance scam targeting elderly Americans
A Ghanaian social media personality known as Abu Trica, real name Frederick Kumi, has been arrested over claims he helped run a romance scam that stole more than $8 million (£5.9m) from older Americans.
Popular Influencer, Abu Trica Arrested, Accused Of Using AI To Scam Elderly Americans Of $8Million
A Ghanaian social media influencer known for showcasing wads of cash, luxury cars, and opulent mansions has been arrested in Accra for allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated romance-fraud scheme that defrauded elderly Americans of over $8 million. The suspect, 31-year-old Frederick Kumi, popularly known online as Abu Trica, and also identified as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, was picked up in a joint operation between Ghanaian security agencies and…
Ghanaian Influencer Abu Trica Arrested For Defrauding Elderly Americans Of $8 Million
Ghanaian social media influencer, Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has been arrested over claims that he ran an online romance scheme that defrauded older Americans out of more than $8m (£5.9m). According to prosecutors, Abu Trica allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to craft fake personas, contacted victims on social media and dating platforms, […]
‘We’ll come after you’ – Sam George warns cybercriminals after Abu Trica arrest
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has issued a stern warning to cybercriminals in the country, stressing that all offenders will be brought to justice. His caution follows the reported arrest of well-known Swedru-based businessman and social media personality Abu Trica, who has been taken into custody by authorities in the United States. The investigation was led by the FBI’s Cleveland Div…
Abu Trica charged in $8 million romance scam targeting elderly Americans
A Ghanaian national has been charged in the United States for his alleged role in a romance scam that took more than $8 million from elderly victims across the country. A Federal Grand Jury in the Northern District of Ohio has indicted 31-year-old Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng and Abu Trica, from Swedru in Ghana. The indictment, which was unsealed on Thursday December 11, 2025, describes him as part of a criminal network…
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