The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday August 7, 2025 announced the extradition of three Ghanaian nationals accused of orchestrating a sprawling international fraud scheme that stole more than $100 million from victims through romance scams and business email compromises.
Federal prosecutors say Isaac Boateng, Inusah Ahmed and Derrick Van Yeboah were key members of a transnational criminal network that targeted individuals and businesses across the United States and beyond.
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly used fake online identities to cultivate romantic relationships with victims, persuading them to send money under false pretenses.
In parallel, investigators say the group carried out sophisticated business email compromise (BEC) attacks, hacking into corporate email systems to reroute legitimate payments and siphon millions from unsuspecting companies.
Authorities allege the fraud ring laundered its illicit proceeds through a web of bank accounts in the United States, Ghana, and other countries.
The three men were arrested in Ghana and extradited to the United States after months of coordination between U.S. law enforcement, Ghanaian authorities, and Interpol.
They now face federal charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, which could carry decades in prison if convicted.
“The defendants exploited trust—both personal and professional—for their own enrichment,” said an FBI spokesperson. “Their extradition underscores our commitment to pursuing cybercriminals anywhere in the world.”
Prosecutors urged the public to be vigilant against online scams, noting that romance fraud and BEC attacks remain among the costliest cybercrimes reported to the FBI each year.
