In brief
Ghanaian twin brothers Jamal and Kamal, joined by American woman Amanda Joy Opoku‑Boachie, have pled guilty to orchestrating a $9 million romance scam that preyed on seniors across the U.S. and Europe. By posing as online love interests, the trio convinced victims to send money into accounts in Ghana, amassing huge losses between July 2024 and April 2026. The conviction means each faces up to 20 years in prison and has prompted a broader crackdown on West African cyber‑crime networks by U.S. authorities.
Recently, a pair of Ghanaian twins—Jamal and Kamal Abubakari—along with U.S. resident Amanda Joy Opoku‑Boachie, were handed a guilty verdict for running a $9 million romance scam that stole from elderly fans in the U.S., Germany and Austria.
Using fake online identities on dating apps and social media, the gang pretended to fall in love with their victims, then begged for money under pretences like emergency health bills. As a result, people across 24 U.S. states and two European countries lost a combined $9 m (£6.7m) between July 2024 and April 2026.
The three pleaded guilty in federal court, agreed to forfeit luxury jewellery seized during arrest, and now face up to 20 years behind bars. Their sentencing is scheduled for next year.
Their case comes as part of a wider U.S. crackdown on West‑African cyber‑crime networks. The FBI reports hundreds of arrests after dismantling a Ghana‑based scam hub, and a Yoruba‑born influencer, Frederick Kumi, was recently extradited for an $8 m romance fraud.
What can you do? Verify identities, especially on dating apps. Never send money to strangers, even if they claim a miracle or emergency. If you suspect a scam, report it immediately to law‑enforcement or the platform hosting the account.
