Frederick Kumi extradited to US in $8M romance fraud case

U.S. prosecutors announced that Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, known online as Abu Trica, was extradited from Accra to face federal charges for an alleged romance‑fraud scheme that stole more than $8 million from over 80 elderly Americans. The indictment alleges Kumi and co‑defendant Daniel Yussif used AI‑generated video personas and fake online identities on dating platforms to deceive widows and divorcees between April 2023 and November 2025, convincing victims to wire money for fictitious gold and diamond inheritances.

Investigators say the proceeds were moved through fake businesses, money‑mule accounts and bank accounts in both Ghana and the United States, and were used to purchase luxury assets—including a mansion in Ghana, a Lamborghini, a Tesla Cybertruck, a Mercedes‑Benz and a BMW—which have been seized. Kumi is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The case was built with cooperation from Ghanaian authorities such as the Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service and the Cyber Security Authority, and is being prosecuted under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative.