Keypoints:
- Frederick Kumi, known as ‘Abu Trica’, accused of leading a $8m romance scam
- Elderly Americans were the primary targets, prosecutors say
- Suspect was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025
US federal prosecutors have charged 31-year-old Frederick Kumi, a Ghanaian national also known by the nickname ‘Abu Trica’, in the Northern District of Ohio for allegedly orchestrating a wide-ranging romance scam operation that targeted elderly Americans and extracted more than $8 million from victims across the United States.
The charges were announced by the United States Department of Justice, which alleges that Kumi played a central role in a transnational fraud network that relied on emotional manipulation, fake online personas and coordinated financial transfers to defraud mostly older individuals over several years.
Kumi, who is also alleged to have used aliases including Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence under US federal law.
Arrest in Ghana
The Justice Department said Kumi was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, following a coordinated operation involving US and Ghanaian law enforcement authorities.
Prosecutors said the arrest was the result of extensive financial investigations and international cooperation aimed at dismantling cross-border online fraud networks targeting vulnerable victims in the United States.
How the alleged scheme operated
According to court documents cited by prosecutors, the operation followed a familiar pattern associated with online romance scams. Victims were contacted through social media platforms, dating websites and private messaging applications by individuals posing as romantic partners.
These fake identities were supported by stolen photographs and carefully constructed backstories designed to build trust and emotional dependency. Once relationships were established, victims were persuaded to send money for fabricated emergencies, business ventures or travel arrangements that never materialised.
Prosecutors allege that Kumi helped coordinate these requests, directing victims on how to move funds through wire transfers, cashier’s cheques and other payment methods intended to make the transactions harder to trace.
Elderly Americans hardest hit
Federal authorities say a significant proportion of the victims were elderly, with some losing retirement savings and long-term financial security after becoming emotionally invested in prolonged online relationships that prosecutors describe as entirely fictitious.
In several cases, victims made repeated payments over months or even years, believing they were supporting a trusted partner. Investigators estimate that total losses linked to the scheme exceeded $8 million, with individual victims sometimes losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Justice Department said romance scams are particularly damaging because they exploit emotional vulnerability as well as financial trust, often leaving victims with lasting financial and emotional harm.
Cross-border financial crime
The case highlights the increasingly international nature of cyber-enabled financial crime. While victims were based in the United States, prosecutors say key participants operated from abroad, using digital platforms and cross-border financial systems to reach targets and move illicit proceeds.
US authorities credited cooperation between domestic investigators and international partners with helping to trace financial flows and identify individuals linked to the operation. Further legal proceedings, including extradition-related steps, are expected as the case progresses.
Warning to the public
Federal prosecutors renewed warnings about online romance scams, urging people to remain cautious when engaging with strangers online who move quickly to build emotional connections or request money.
The Justice Department encouraged families to speak openly with elderly relatives about online safety and to report suspected fraud promptly to law enforcement agencies.
