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Ghanaian national sentenced to 7 years in prison for stealing $10M from romance scam victims
A 41-year-old Ghanaian national was sentenced to 85 months in prison for stealing over $10 million from vulnerable victims through romance scams between February 2015 and October 2024. Van Yeboah, arrested in Ghana in June 2025 and extradited to the United States, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and agreed to forfeit $10.15 million in fraudulent proceeds. He operated as a high-ranking member of a Ghana-based criminal organization linked to more than $100 million in losses from romance scams and business email compromises, targeting mostly older individuals by impersonating romantic partners.
Why it matters: Organizations and individuals handling customer identity verification and financial transactions should recognize romance scams as a persistent threat targeting vulnerable populations; this case demonstrates the need for enhanced anti-fraud controls and victim education.
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threat intel
Ghanaian national sentenced to 7 years in prison for stealing $10M from romance scam victims
A 41-year-old Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, was sentenced to 85 months in prison for stealing over $10 million from romance scam victims between February 2015 and October 2024. Operating as a high-ranking member of a Ghana-based criminal organization responsible for more than $100 million in losses, he impersonated romantic partners to deceive vulnerable individuals, some of whom were manipulated into laundering funds through shell companies. Van Yeboah was arrested in Ghana in June 2025, extradited to the United States, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, forfeiting $10.15 million in proceeds.
Why it matters: Organizations and individuals managing older or vulnerable populations should recognize romance scams as a persistent threat; romance scammers exploit emotional trust to extract life savings and recruit unwitting money launderers, and this case demonstrates the scale and international coordination of such schemes.
- Source published
- First seen by Cybersecurity Tracker