Popular Ghanaian socialite Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica (also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng), has been arrested in Ghana following a federal indictment in the United States for allegedly masterminding romance scams that defrauded elderly American victims of more than $8 million.
The 31-year-old from Agona Swedru in the Central Region was taken into custody on Wednesday, December 11, 2025, after a two-count indictment was unsealed by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Kumi and his criminal network used artificial intelligence software to create fake identities and build romantic relationships with vulnerable elderly victims across the United States since 2023.
The scammers reportedly targeted victims through social media and online dating platforms, engaging them in frequent intimate conversations via phone calls, emails, and messaging apps to gain their trust.
Once trust was established, the fraudsters fabricated stories involving urgent medical bills, travel expenses, or lucrative investment opportunities to convince victims to send large sums of money or valuables.
Prosecutors allege that after the funds were transferred, Kumi coordinated with accomplices in Ohio and other parts of the U.S. to launder and redirect the money to associates in Ghana and elsewhere.
Kumi faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough, with the investigation led by the FBI’s Cleveland Division.
U.S. authorities commended Ghanaian agencies including the Attorney General’s Office, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service, Cyber Security Authority, NACOC, and the National Intelligence Bureau for their cooperation in the arrest.
The indictment forms part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, launched under the 2017 Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act to combat financial fraud targeting senior citizens.