US Authorities Link Ghanaian Influencer to Alleged $8m AI Fraud Network

A Ghanaian social media personality known for flaunting luxury lifestyles has been arrested in Accra after U.S. authorities linked him to a sophisticated online fraud operation that allegedly stole more than $8 million from elderly Americans.

Officials identified the suspect as 31-year-old Frederick Kumi, widely known online as Abu Trica. He was taken into custody during a coordinated operation involving Ghanaian security agencies and U.S. federal investigators. Authorities say he operated under multiple aliases while allegedly directing an international romance-fraud ring.

Investigators claim Kumi used advanced AI tools to create fake digital identities, complete with lifelike photos, detailed biographies and scripted emotional narratives designed to lure vulnerable seniors. These fabricated personas were deployed across dating websites and social platforms.

According to case documents, the stolen funds were routed through accomplices in both Ghana and the United States. Investigators believe Kumi coordinated the movement and distribution of the proceeds, acting as the central figure in the network's operations.

Financial-crime units began scrutinising him after he publicly showcased unexplained wealth on social media, including high-end vehicles and luxury homes. Authorities said these displays contradicted his known income sources and accelerated the investigation.

U.S. prosecutors have filed charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracy, each carrying a potential 20-year prison term. The case is being pursued under the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act due to the targeting of senior citizens.

Officials say the arrest forms part of a wider U.S. crackdown on cross-border fraud networks operating between West Africa and the United States. Recent months have seen several similar arrests and extraditions linked to online romance and inheritance scams.