Accra’s nightlife society has been shaken as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrests alleged fraud boys involved in various scam activities.
The suspects, reportedly part of the notorious “Big Boys” group, have gone into hiding as the FBI intensifies its crackdown.
The FBI’s swift operation, conducted in collaboration with Interpol and some Ghanaian authorities, targeted suspects allegedly orchestrating transnational romance scams and wire fraud schemes. The crackdown has sent shockwaves through Accra’s social scene, with many high-profile individuals scrambling to avoid detection.
The “Big Boys” group has been a prominent feature in the country’s luxury landscape, flaunting designer lifestyles on social media while allegedly masterminding sophisticated financial scams, primarily targeting Americans through fake investments and fabricated relationships.
Out of the 51 individuals targeted, sources say about 15 suspects have been apprehended by the FBI and are currently undergoing intensive investigations. The sudden social media blackout of several high-profile accounts has sparked viral speculation, as many now fear displaying their lavish possessions publicly. A number of lifestyle influencers have deactivated their accounts to avoid attracting attention.
FBI Cases
This comes just weeks after the arrest of Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, popularly known as Dada Joe Remix, a well-known figure in Ghana’s nightlife and entertainment circles, for his alleged involvement in cybercrime. He was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, from at least 2013 through March 2023, Boateng and his co-conspirators engaged in romance and inheritance scams, tricking elderly U.S. citizens into believing they possessed gold and jewels that required taxes, fees, or other payments to release.
In a related case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio on May 13, 2025, brought charges against Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Hannah Adom, Portia Joe, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, and Dwayne Asafo Adjei for participating in conspiracies to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
The suspects are alleged to have used various romance and wire fraud schemes to obtain funds from victims under false pretenses, specifically targeting elderly individuals in the United States. Court documents claim they shared funds obtained from victims with co-conspirators in Ghana and other countries.
On June 4, 2025, additional charges were filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio against David Onyinye Abuanekwu, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, and Nader Wasif for their involvement in similar schemes. The documents reveal that between December 2017 and March 2024, the defendants engaged in wire fraud and romance fraud schemes, primarily targeting elderly U.S. citizens.
Government Order
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior’s recent extradition order for four Ghanaian nationals wanted by the United States has heightened fear and panic in the country’s capital.
The individuals are being sought in connection with an alleged multi-million-dollar Small Business Administration (SBA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fraud scheme. They are believed to be hiding in Ghana, triggering a full-scale international manhunt.
The four wanted individuals are Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, Derrick Van Yeboah, and Patrick Kwame Asare.
Their pursuit has left many in Accra’s elite circles on edge, as the investigation continues to unravel the depth of these alleged financial crimes.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke