A Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court for his role in an international fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable victims through online romance scams and business email compromises.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Van Yeboah admitted to personally stealing more than $10 million from victims as part of a wider criminal network operating out of Ghana. The group allegedly used fake online identities and emotional manipulation to convince victims—many of them elderly—to send large sums of money.
Authorities say the organisation collectively defrauded dozens of victims of more than $100 million.
Investigators revealed that the network primarily operated through romance scams, where fraudsters built online relationships with unsuspecting individuals over weeks or months. Once trust was established, victims were persuaded to send money for fabricated emergencies, travel expenses, or business opportunities.
In addition to romance scams, the group also engaged in Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes. These scams involved impersonating company executives or trusted partners to trick businesses into transferring funds to accounts controlled by the criminals.
U.S. officials say the operation relied on a coordinated network of individuals who managed fake identities, communicated with victims, and moved stolen funds through various financial channels to conceal the money trail.
Law enforcement agencies in the United States and internationally have intensified efforts in recent years to combat cyber-enabled financial crimes, particularly romance scams, which have cost victims billions of dollars globally.
Van Yeboah now faces significant prison time under U.S. federal law, with sentencing expected at a later date.
