One Ghanaian man, Michael Kumi, don land for United States after dem extradite am for alleged romance scam wey involve artificial intelligence. According to US prosecutors, Kumi na him use AI tools create fake online identities, wey he use target victims for social media and dating sites. He go first earn their trust, then later go demand money from dem.
Kumi face up to 20 years prison if dem find am guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. He don deny all the charges against am. The extradition happen on Thursday, and Kumi bin travel go US inside one Delta Airlines flight.
But Kumi’s lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, tell BBC say he go court on Thursday to stop the extradition, but later he learn say Kumi don already dey for plane. Barker-Vormawor accuse Ghana government of sidestepping judicial oversight because dem allegedly no wait for court verdict. He say the decision to extradite Kumi raise profound constitutional questions. Up to now, Ghana government no comment.
Kumi wey come from Swedru town for southern Ghana, he bin get more than 100,000 followers for Instagram, and he dey always flaunt luxury items online. This one raise suspicion about where he dey get the money.
US prosecutors say victims dey targeted through social media and online dating platforms. Dem go first get frequent and intimate conversation, then later the suspect go request money or valuables under false pretences, like urgent medical needs, travel expenses or investment opportunities. The money or valuables go then direct to co-conspirators wey dey pose as third parties. Kumi allegedly distribute the money to his associates for US and Ghana.
There be small disagreement about Kumi’s true age. His lawyer say he be 28 years old, but US prosecutors say he be 31. The case dey prosecute under the US Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution law.
US authorities don increase their crackdown on criminal networks wey dey operate for US and West Africa, especially those wey dey defraud elderly Americans. Last week, another Ghanaian fraudster, Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, wey dem know as Dada Joe Remix, plead guilty for US for using romance and inheritance schemes to defraud Americans. In December, one court for US also sentence Oluwaseun Adekoya, a Nigerian ringleader of nationwide bank fraud and money-laundering conspiracies, to 20 years prison for laundering over $2 million.
