Three Ghanaian nationals, including an alleged cybercrime kingpin, are facing extradition to the United States in connection with a $100 million fraud scheme involving Business Email Compromise (BEC) and romance scams, GhanaWeb has learned.
The suspects, Isaac Kofi Oduro Boateng, also known as Kofi Boat; a man identified only as Agony; and a third accomplice, were arrested on Friday, June 13, in a joint operation between Interpol and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
GhanaWeb understands that a fourth suspect remains at large.
The extradition request, issued by the US Department of State and relayed through the US Embassy in Accra, follows a May 2023 indictment by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The court charged the accused with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in relation to a criminal enterprise operating out of Ghana.
On Monday, June 16, 2025, a magistrate court in Accra remanded the three suspects into police custody pending further proceedings.
According to court documents sighted by GhanaWeb, Kofi Boateng is believed to be the ringleader of the syndicate, which operated between 2016 and 2023.
Prosecutors allege that the group orchestrated large-scale cyber fraud targeting individuals and companies across the United States.
Their operations reportedly involved impersonating company officials via spoofed email accounts to trick victims into authorising wire transfers.
The suspects allegedly attached fake authorisation letters bearing forged signatures to lend credibility to the scams.
“The group caused victims to unknowingly transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars into accounts under the syndicate’s control,” a source close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
In addition to BEC scams, investigators say the syndicate ran romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly, through email, text, and online dating platforms.
Victims were manipulated into believing they were in romantic relationships and were persuaded to send money under false pretenses, such as promised business opportunities or fictitious emergencies.
The indictment identifies at least one business and eight individuals as confirmed victims of the scheme, which US prosecutors say led to losses of at least $100 million.
On June 13, 2024, the US Embassy delivered a diplomatic note to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting the suspects’ provisional arrest.
Ghana’s Minister of the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, subsequently signed an arrest warrant on March 18, 2025, authorising the detentions.
The extradition proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks as Ghanaian authorities cooperate with their US counterparts.
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