---
title: "Ghanaian influencer extradited to the U.S. over an alleged romance scam on the elderly"
description: "A Ghanaian social-media influencer known as Abu Trica has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges over what prosecutors describe as a romance scam that used fake online identities, some generated with artificial intelligence, to steal more than $8 million from elderly Americans. He has not been convicted, and the charges are allegations."
category: "U.S."
category_url: https://herald.la/category/us
author: "Lucía Fuentes"
published: 2026-07-10T16:52:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-10T16:52:00.000Z
canonical: https://herald.la/article/ghanaian-influencer-extradited-to-the-us-over-an-alleged-romance-scam-on-the-eld
tags: ["fraud", "romance-scam", "elder-abuse", "ghana", "justice-department"]
---
# Ghanaian influencer extradited to the U.S. over an alleged romance scam on the elderly

A Ghanaian social-media influencer known as Abu Trica has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges over what prosecutors describe as a romance scam that used fake online identities, some generated with artificial intelligence, to steal more than $8 million from elderly Americans. He has not been convicted, and the charges are allegations.

A social-media personality who flaunted luxury cars to more than 100,000 Instagram followers is now in U.S. custody, accused of building his lifestyle on the savings of elderly Americans he never met.

## The case

Frederick Kumi, the Ghanaian influencer known online as Abu Trica, was extradited to the United States this week to face federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, [the U.S. Justice Department said](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/ghanaian-national-charged-running-romance-scams-took-over-8-million-elderly-victims). Prosecutors in the Northern District of Ohio allege he and others ran a romance-scam operation that took more than $8 million from older victims. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The charges are allegations, and Kumi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

## How prosecutors say it worked

According to the indictment, the scheme followed a pattern that has become disturbingly common. The conspirators allegedly created fake personas, in some cases using artificial-intelligence tools to make them convincing, and used dating websites and social media to strike up romantic relationships with their targets, [the Justice Department said](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/ghanaian-national-charged-running-romance-scams-took-over-8-million-elderly-victims). Once trust was established, victims were persuaded to send money under false pretenses, prosecutors say, citing invented medical emergencies, travel costs and investment opportunities.

The money did not stay put. After victims transferred funds, Kumi allegedly worked with a network of associates to move the proceeds out of Ohio and on to people in Ghana and elsewhere, [as Vanguard reported](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/07/influencer-extradited-to-us-over-8m-scam-targeting-elderly-americans/).

## The extradition

Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 and, after months of legal proceedings, was flown to the United States this week to stand trial, [Africanews reported](https://www.africanews.com/2026/07/10/ghana-extradites-influencer-abu-trica-to-us-over-alleged-8m-romance-fraud-scheme/). The prosecution is being brought under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, part of a broader U.S. push to dismantle West African fraud networks that target older Americans.

## A growing threat

Romance scams are among the most costly and cruel forms of online fraud, precisely because they exploit loneliness and trust. U.S. authorities have warned repeatedly that such schemes, increasingly supercharged by AI-generated photos, voices and messages, are draining billions from victims, many of them elderly. The case against Abu Trica, with its trail of fake love and drained accounts, is a vivid example of what officials say they are up against, and, they hope, a signal that even influencers an ocean away can be brought to a U.S. courtroom.