On August 8, 2025, the FBI announced that four Ghanaian nationals are facing serious fraud charges in the United States after allegedly participating in an international scheme that defrauded victims of over $100 million. The men, identified as Isaac Oduro Boateng (“Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (“Pascal”), Derrick Van Yeboah (“Van”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (“Borgar”), are accused of using romance scams and business email fraud to manipulate both individuals and companies into transferring substantial sums of money.
Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah were extradited from Ghana on August 7, 2025, and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge the following day. Asare remains at large, with authorities actively searching for him.
Investigations revealed that the group targeted elderly individuals who believed they were developing online romantic relationships, gaining their trust with fabricated identities before convincing them to send money. In addition, the suspects allegedly tricked businesses by sending fraudulent emails that directed employees to transfer funds to the scammers’ accounts.
Funds obtained through these schemes were reportedly routed to West Africa, where so-called “chairmen” coordinated the group’s activities. Boateng and Ahmed are believed to have played leadership roles in the operation.
Each suspect faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen property, each carrying potential prison sentences of up to 20 years. The arrests and extraditions were the result of coordinated efforts between the FBI and Ghanaian agencies, including the Economic and Organized Crime Office, INTERPOL, the Cyber Security Authority, and the National Intelligence Bureau.
Authorities emphasized that the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
