Social media influencer, Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, aka Abu Trica, has been arrested over his alleged involvement in a romance scam network that defrauded foreign nationals in the US of over $8 million dollars.
A joint operation carried out by a team of Ghanaian and US security agencies led to the arrest of 31-year-old Kumi on December 11, 2025.
The arrest was made possible through the collaboration between the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and Ghana’s security agencies such as Attorney General’s Office, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and Ghana Police Service.
The Cyber Security Authority, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Sensitive Investigation Unit, US Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra also supported the operation.
Abu Trica has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification, and faces up to 20 years in prison, according to the US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio.
According to recently unsealed indictment, Kumi is accused of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims, through social media and online dating platforms, and gain their trust before extorting them of their money and valuables.
The indictment indicated that the victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators. The perpetrators, built trust through frequent, intimate conversations by phone, email, and messaging platforms. They then requested money or valuables under false pretenses, such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. Relying on these misrepresentations, victims were persuaded to send funds or valuables, which were then directed to co-conspirators posing as third parties.
The indictment also alleges that after the victims transferred funds, Abu Trica worked with a network of co-conspirators to distribute the money from Ohio and across the United States to associates in Ghana and other locations.
Kumi flaunted luxury items including cash and luxury cars on his social media pages with over 100k followers.
“If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including a defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum,” part of the statement read.
The investigation and prosecution of this case is in response to the US Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the elderly population.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke