Fitness coach falls victim to fake Hajia4Reall romance scam
Sam Cross, a 75-year-old fitness coach from New York, has become the latest victim of a romance scam, losing thousands of dollars to a fraudster impersonating popular Ghanaian celebrity Mona4Reall/Hajia4Reall whose real name is Mona Faiz Montrage.
Cross, known for his Instagram fitness videos, thought he had found love online when he connected with someone using photos of Mona4Reall. The scammer, posing as the celebrity, built a fake relationship with Cross, gaining his trust and eventually convincing him to send money for various expenses, including fake medical treatments and a fictional Muslim marriage ceremony.
The deception continued for months, with Cross footing bills for the scammer’s supposed legal fees, visa fees, and school fees for her child. He even funded events and appearances with notable artists, unaware that he was being manipulated.
The scam was only uncovered when news broke of Mona4Reall’s arrest in connection with a $2 million romance scam. Cross realized he had been duped and reached out to Mona’s attorney, who helped him understand the extent of the fraud.
This cautionary tale highlights the growing concern of online romance scams, which have become increasingly sophisticated and targeted.
Currently, Hajia4reall is accused of profiting from romance fraud schemes, where her associates deceived victims into sending her money under false pretenses. These schemes included:
– Fake gold transportation fees to the US from abroad
– Bogus payments to resolve a fabricated FBI investigation into unemployment benefits
– Sham transactions to aid a fictitious US army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan
These false claims allegedly tricked victims into sending Hajia4reall money, which she received as part of her role in the enterprise.”
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