A Ghanaian social media influencer, Frederick Kumi, accused of orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded over $8 million from older Americans by cultivating fake online relationships, was extradited to the United States on Friday, confirmed his lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
Federal prosecutors secured an indictment in December, charging Kumi and associates with wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. Mr. Kumi denies the allegations, but authorities allege he used artificial intelligence to forge identities and targeted vulnerable populations via social media and dating platforms.
Between April 2023 and late 2025, scammers linked to Kumi allegedly convinced victims to send funds for urgent needs, including medical expenses and investments. Per the indictment, perpetrators fostered “romantic” connections with older individuals through prolonged phone, email, and messaging interactions before exploiting their trust.
A resident of Swedru, Ghana, Kumi—known online as Abu Trica or Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng—had nearly 100,000 Instagram followers, where he showcased luxury items. Prosecutors state he operated internationally, funneling stolen money from Ohio and U.S. victims to Ghana and other regions.
On Thursday, Kumi boarded a Delta Air Lines flight from Accra to the U.S. His legal team challenged the extradition order in Ghana, but authorities reportedly dismissed the case. Ghana’s attorney general contested Barker-Vormawor’s account, though no official comments were released by the Ministry of Justice or police.
U.S. prosecutors emphasized the scheme’s scale, highlighting how federally funded programs now target similar crimes. Kumi faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The Northern District of Ohio attorney’s office did not comment immediately.
