The Cyber Security Authority (CSA), led by the Ag. Director-General, Mr. Divine Selase Agbeti, on December 11, 2025, led a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to arrest Frederick Kumi, aka Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, 31, and two others for their role in romance scams defrauding victims of 8 million US dollars.
Abu Trica was part of a criminal network that targeted elderly victims in romance scams across the United States since 2023.
An unsealed indictment by a federal grand jury in the U.S returned a 2-count indictment charging the Ghanaian National with defrauding elderly victims.
According to the indictment, perpetrators of this romance scam used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims.
They gained victims’ trust to obtain money and valuables, often targeting individuals through social media and online dating platforms under false pretences.
The indictment also alleges that after the victims transferred funds, Kumi worked with a network of co-conspirators to distribute the money from the United States to associates in Ghana and other locations.
Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification, and faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of the charges.
