Ghanaian influencer faces 20 years in prison tras alleged romance scam defrauded elderly Americans of $8m

A Ghanaian influencer has been extradited to the United States to face trial over allegations that he helped run a romance scam that defrauded elderly Americans of more than $8 million.

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Frederick Kumi, better known online as Abu Trica, was extradited to the US on Thursday after being arrested in Ghana last year as part of a joint Ghana-US operation. He has denied all charges against him.

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US prosecutors allege Kumi used artificial intelligence tools to create fake online identities that targeted victims through social media and online dating platforms.

Qué puede pasar después

According to the BBC , victims were drawn into frequent and intimate conversations before being persuaded to send money under false pretenses, including supposed medical emergencies, travel costs, and investment opportunities.

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According to prosecutors, the funds and valuables were sent to co-conspirators posing as third parties before being distributed by Kumi to associates in both Ghana and the United States.

Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

The influencer, who is from Swedru in southern Ghana, had regularly shared posts featuring luxury cars and expensive items with his followers, drawing scrutiny over the source of his wealth.

Kumi’s lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, told the BBC he attempted to stop the extradition through the courts on Thursday, only to learn shortly afterward that his client had already been flown to the United States aboard a Delta Air Lines flight.

The attorney accused Ghana’s government of bypassing “judicial oversight” by allegedly extraditing Kumi before the court had reached a decision, adding that the move “raises profound constitutional questions.”

At the time of writing, the Ghanaian government has not publicly commented on the allegations.

There is also disagreement over Kumi’s age. His lawyer says he is 28 years old, while US prosecutors list him as 31. The case is being prosecuted under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, which is designed to combat financial crimes targeting older Americans.

The case comes just months after another major scam targeting older Americans ended in a guilty plea.

In April 2026, Jiandong Chen admitted to helping steal $27 million from more than 2,000 elderly victims across the US after he was previously exposed in a viral YouTube sting operation.