A Ghanaian National faces 20 years in a US prison for a $100 Million U.S. Fraud and BEC Attacks

A Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty to his role in a vast transnational fraud network responsible for stealing more than $100 million from victims across the United States through a combination of business email compromise (BEC) attacks and romance scams that spanned several years.

40-year-old Derrick Van Yeboah entered a guilty plea on Thursday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting his involvement in a criminal enterprise that targeted vulnerable individuals and U.S. businesses between 2016 and May 2023. As part of the plea, Van Yeboah agreed to pay more than $10 million in restitution to victims.

High-ranking member of a Ghana-based fraud network

According to prosecutors, Van Yeboah held a senior operational role within a Ghana-based fraud organisation that coordinated its U.S. activities through a network of middlemen, money launderers, and digital facilitators. The ring was notorious for using social engineering, emotional manipulation, and sophisticated cyber‑fraud techniques to deceive victims and extract large sums of money.

Van Yeboah was extradited to the United States in August 2025, following the arrests of accomplices Isaac Oduro Boateng (known as “Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (“Pascal”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (“Borgar”). All were implicated in the same criminal structure.

“Game Boys” and “Sakawa Boys”: Romance Scams Targeting Older Americans

Court documents reveal that members of the ring—who referred to themselves as “game boys” or “sakawa boys”—preyed on vulnerable older Americans, many of whom lived alone or were seeking companionship online.

The criminals created elaborate false personas on dating platforms and social networks, gradually gaining victims’ trust before persuading them to transfer money to U.S.-based intermediaries. These middlemen would then launder the funds, keeping a portion before sending the remainder to West Africa, where senior members—known internally as “chairmen”—coordinated the broader operation.

Prosecutors stated that Van Yeboah himself orchestrated multiple romance scams and was directly linked to more than $10 million in losses.

Business Email Compromise Attacks

In addition to romance schemes, the fraud network also carried out widespread business email compromise (BEC) attacks. Using spoofed email addresses designed to impersonate trusted customers, executives, or suppliers, the criminals tricked numerous U.S. companies into unknowingly wiring funds to accounts controlled by the conspiracy.

These attacks were a crucial revenue stream for the group, helping drive total losses above $100 million.

Prosecutors Warn of Online Vigilance

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton condemned the exploitation of vulnerable individuals:

“Many New Yorkers search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability met with fraud and theft. Van Yeboah cruelly exploited those vulnerabilities for over $10 million in illicit profit.”

Clayton added a reminder for the public:

“Today’s plea is a reminder to be vigilant online—especially on dating websites. Never give money to someone you just met, and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Facing Up to 20 Years in Prison

Van Yeboah is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on June 3, where he faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Sources

• U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York — Ghanaian Nationals Extradited for Roles in Criminal Organisation That Stole More Than $100 Million Through Romance Scams and Other Fraud (Press Release, Aug 8, 2025)
  https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghanaian-nationals-extradited-roles-criminal-organization-stole-more-100-million
• U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York — Ghanaian National Pleads Guilty To Stealing More Than $10 Million Via Romance Scams (Press Release, Mar 5, 2026; syndication copy)
  https://ebs.publicnow.com/view/6577F10F79B69D3C2B31AB1DB4AF97FBE0BC95F1
• BleepingComputer — Ghanaian man pleads guilty to role in $100 million fraud ring (Mar 6, 2026)
  Canonical: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ghanain-man-pleads-guilty-to-role-in-100-million-fraud-ring/
  AMP mirror you shared: https://www-bleepingcomputer-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ghanain-man-pleads-guilty-to-role-in-100-million-fraud-ring/amp/
• https://www-bleepingcomputer-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ghanain-man-pleads-guilty-to-role-in-100-million-fraud-ring/amp/
• https://www.adomonline.com/ghanaians-extradited-for-alleged-roles-in-stealing-over-100m-through-romance-scams-other-fraud-in-us/
• https://ebs.publicnow.com/view/6577F10F79B69D3C2B31AB1DB4AF97FBE0BC95F1