A Ghanaian national, Derrick Van Yeboah, has pleaded guilty in the United States to his role in a large-scale online fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable victims through romance scams and business email compromise.

According to an update from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Yeboah, 40, admitted to participating in a criminal network operating from Ghana that defrauded victims of more than $100 million.

Investigators said the group primarily targeted older men and women through online romance scams. Members of the network allegedly created fake online identities and developed relationships with victims over time before persuading them to send large sums of money under false pretenses.

Authorities revealed that Yeboah personally stole more than $10 million from victims as part of the scheme.

The guilty plea was entered before US District Judge Arun Subramanian on Thursday, March 5, 2026, marking a major victory for the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in its crackdown on West African-based cybercrime syndicates.

Beyond romance fraud, the criminal organisation also engaged in business email compromise (BEC) attacks. In those schemes, the perpetrators allegedly impersonated company executives or trusted business partners in email communications, tricking American companies into transferring funds to accounts controlled by the group.

The FBI said the fraud operation involved multiple conspirators who coordinated their activities to deceive individuals and companies across several jurisdictions.

Law enforcement officials described the case as part of a broader effort to combat international cyber-enabled fraud networks that exploit trust and emotional vulnerability to steal money from victims.

The case highlights the growing concern among authorities about online romance scams and email compromise schemes, which have caused billions of dollars in losses worldwide.

Yeboah’s guilty plea marks a significant step in the prosecution of members of the transnational criminal network.

Sentencing is expected to follow in accordance with US federal law on June 3, 2026, as Van Yeboah faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.