I am one of the elderly Americans who was targeted, manipulated, and financially destroyed by a carefully planned romance scam allegedly orchestrated by Abu Trica, whose real name is Frederick Kumi, also known as Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng.
People like me were deliberately hunted online. Using social media platforms and dating websites, Abu Trica and his network allegedly deployed advanced AI tools to create convincing fake identities. They pretended to be caring partners, building trust through constant phone calls, messages, and emails. Day after day, they spoke to us intimately, learned our fears, our loneliness, and our vulnerabilities — and then exploited them without mercy.
Once our trust was secured, the lies escalated. We were pressured to send money under false pretenses: fake medical emergencies, fabricated travel plans, or bogus investment opportunities. I was told my help was urgently needed. I believed them. Many of us did. In total, victims like me were allegedly defrauded of more than $8 million.
The money we sent didn’t help anyone in need — it was allegedly funneled to co-conspirators in the United States and Ghana, with Frederick Kumi accused of distributing the stolen funds among his associates. While we struggled, he flaunted luxury items online to his thousands of followers, mocking the pain he caused.
Now, after a joint operation between Ghanaian and US authorities, Abu Trica has been arrested in Ghana. He faces serious charges in the United States, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering — crimes that could land him behind bars for up to 20 years if convicted. The US is seeking his extradition, though he has yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
This case is being prosecuted under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, a law meant to protect people like me — people who trusted and were betrayed. Authorities have increased efforts to dismantle these criminal networks, especially those targeting elderly Americans from West Africa.
I am angry. I am hurt. And I want justice. This is not just about money — it is about dignity, trust, and the lasting emotional damage inflicted by scammers like Frederick Kumi, who allegedly turned human vulnerability into a business.