Two Ghanaian twin brothers and a woman from the United States have been charged in the United States with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering for their alleged involvement in a romance scam network that targeted older Americans.
An indictment unsealed in the case United States v. Jamal Abubakari, et al. names Jamal Abubakari, also known as Jamal Abubakar or “Arrangement,” aged 22, and his twin brother Kamal Abubakari, also known as Kamal Abubakar or “Lancaster,” also 22, alongside Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, also known as Amanda Joy Glum or Amanda Joy Kessei Bierman, aged 53. All three defendants were arrested in Virginia and remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
According to allegations in the indictment, from about July 2024 to April 2026, the defendants and their co-conspirators targeted older Americans on dating websites and social media platforms. They allegedly used fake personas to build close personal and often romantic relationships with victims, who were then induced by false stories to send money via wire transfers to financial accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy. Portions of the funds were subsequently provided to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.
According to the Department of Justice, the case is part of a series of related prosecutions involving romance fraud schemes linked to Ghana. These matters have been assigned to one U.S. District Judge to coordinate proceedings. While many defendants in those connected cases are pending trial or sentencing, nine defendants have already pleaded guilty and were collectively sentenced to approximately 50 years of imprisonment.
The three defendants have not yet entered pleas to the charges.