There are 10 people in Ghana that the FBI is looking into, according to reliable information from the Ghana Education Portal.
The FBI is the lead US federal agency for investigating cyberattacks, intrusions, and other cross-border crimes.
On February 21, the FBI released a press release with the heading Prominent Ghanaian “Influencer” Pleads Guilty To Receiving Fraud Proceeds From Romance Scams. This was related to Hajia4Reall.
The ongoing investigations by the FBI are often secretly done, and those being investigated do not know about the st ongoing investigations. If you fall into any of the categories of the 10 personalities the FBI is investigating in Ghana or you know anyone in public or private life that fits this, there is a chance that the individual and his or her inner circles are already on the radar of the FBI.
The 10 Personalities the FBI is investigating in Ghana
Sakawa boys, romance scam guys, ladies, and persons involved in drugs, drug-related activities, or other illegal activities that bring them so much money from external sources are already under investigation.
Such people may assume that they are smart, but the truth is that they are already exposed and being monitored.
Young guys who drive high-budget cars like the latest Range Rover, BMW, Benz & sports cars.
Young guys who live in high-cost mansions, apartments, or own several houses
Persons who are into Forex trading who claim to make so much
Persons who trade in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
Persons with huge bank account balances with no corresponding income source
Persons who receive foreign remittances (transfers) in huge amounts
Persons who make more than $100K in a month will be silently investigated
Persons who own a chain of businesses like restaurants, pubs, boutiques & real estate
Persons who flaunt money/wealth on social media especially those who travel/shop frequently
Persons connected directly or indirectly to Hajia 4Real especially her circle of friends
Based on the criteria and groupings of crimes above, check out if you fall into any of the 10 personalities the FBI is investigating in Ghana and examine yourself.
Below is the full press release by the FBI on Haji4Reall
Prominent Ghanaian “Influencer” Pleads Guilty To Receiving Fraud Proceeds From Romance Scams
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of MONA FAIZ MONTRAGE for her role in laundering the proceeds of a series of romance scams. MONTRAGE pled guilty today to conspiracy to receive stolen money before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly received money stolen from older Americans through romance scams and was arrested abroad and now faces serious consequences for her actions. Romance scams such as Montrage’s harmed her vulnerable, elderly victims not only in the cruel betrayal of trust in the realization that their online romantic connection was fiction, but by also callously stealing their money. This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are.”
As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings:
From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, MONTRAGE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the U.S., including romance scams.
Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone. The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who was, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise. Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise.
MONTRAGE is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana.
MONTRAGE received money from several victims of romance frauds who members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money. Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to MONTRAGE were payments to transport gold to the U.S. from overseas payments to resolve a fake FBI investigation, and payments to assist a fake U.S. Army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.
In total, MONTRAGE controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise.
MONTRAGE, 31, of Accra, Ghana, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. MONTRAGE also agreed to pay forfeiture in the amount of $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. MONTRAGE is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.
Contact
Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff
(212) 637-2600
Source: Ghana Education News
