One of the Ghanaian fraud suspects with FBI agents in America
Source: Africa Publicity
Authorities in America have charged four Ghanaian citizens over their alleged involvement in a $100 million romance and business email compromise scam.
Officials in America announced the charges on Thursday, August 8, 2025.
The Ghanaian fraud suspects who were extradited to the US recently by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are: Isaac Oduro Boateng (“Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (“Pascal”), Derrick Van Yeboah (“Van”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (“Borgar”).
They stand accused of leading a sophisticated fraud ring which allegedly targeted vulnerable persons and businesses in America.
Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah were extradited from Ghana and arrived in the US on August 7, 2025.
They appeared before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger on Thursday.
The other suspect, Asare remains at large and is being ‘hunted’ by law enforcement officials.
The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, has condemned the romance and business email compromise scams.
According to Clayton, “Offshore scammers should know that we, the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will work around the world to combat online fraud and bring perpetrators to justice.”
Also, the FBI Assistant Director who is in Charge of the case, Christopher G. Raia, says: “Deceiving businesses using email compromise campaigns and tricking innocent elderly victims through fraudulent companionship is not merely appalling but illegal. The FBI will continue to ensure anyone who preys on companies and vulnerable Americans online faces justice.”
The indictment reveals that the four Ghanaians operated a criminal organisation based in Ghana that scammed older adults from across America into fake online romantic relationships, convincing them to send money or assist in laundering stolen funds.
According to the indictment, they also hacked business email accounts to deceive companies into wiring millions to their enterprise.
Proceeds were laundered back to West Africa, directed by “chairmen” who managed operations; Boateng and Ahmed were identified as key leaders.
The defendants, aged between 36 and 40, face multiple charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money. Each charge carries up to 20 years in prison.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice thanked Ghanaian authorities, including the Economic and Organized Crime Office, INTERPOL, Cyber Security Authority, and National Intelligence Bureau, for their crucial role in securing the extraditions.
