A sprawling cybercrime scheme spanning continents has been exposed by US federal prosecutors, with four Ghanaian nationals at the centre of what authorities describe as a “sophisticated and predatory” fraud network responsible for stealing more than $100 million from victims in America.
The accused — Isaac Oduro Boateng, known as “Kofi Boat,” Inusah Ahmed, alias “Pascal,” Derrick Van Yeboah, also called “Van,” and Patrick Kwame Asare, alias “Borgar” — are alleged to have masterminded a dual-pronged operation: exploiting vulnerable older adults through elaborate romance scams and swindling companies via business email compromise (BEC) attacks.
According to the US Department of Justice, the fraud ring’s strategy involved creating fake online personas to lure victims into fabricated romantic relationships, ultimately convincing them to send money or facilitate money laundering. In parallel, the group allegedly hacked business email accounts, manipulating employees into wiring large sums directly into their control.
Three of the suspects — Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah — were extradited from Ghana and made their first court appearance on August 7 before Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger in the Southern District of New York. Asare remains a fugitive.
“These charges send a clear message: no matter where you are in the world, if you prey on vulnerable people or target American businesses, we will find you,” said US Attorney Jay Clayton. FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia echoed the warning, describing the scams as both “appalling and illegal,” and vowing continued pursuit of cybercriminals who exploit trust for profit.
Prosecutors say the operation was coordinated from Ghana by so-called “chairmen,” with Boateng and Ahmed identified as principal leaders overseeing the laundering of proceeds back to West Africa.
The four men, aged 36 to 40, face serious charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money — each carrying potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
US authorities credited Ghanaian law enforcement, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), INTERPOL, the Cyber Security Authority, and the National Intelligence Bureau, for their “instrumental role” in facilitating the arrests and extraditions.
The prosecution is being handled by the Southern District of New York’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, led by Assistant US Attorneys Kevin Mead and Mitzi Steiner.
If convicted, the defendants would join a growing list of transnational cybercriminals brought to justice through close cooperation between the US and Ghana, underscoring the intensifying global crackdown on online fraud networks.
