Derrick Van Yeboah, a Ghanaian national accused of defrauding victims in the United States, has pleaded guilty to partaking in a huge romance and email scam that stole more than $10 million.
Authorities say the fraud was part of a wider international criminal network that collectively swindled victims of over $100 million.
He was arrested after a lengthy investigation which included tracking financial transactions, online identities, and digital communications linked to the scam. 
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How the Derrick Van Yeboah Scam Worked
According to prosecutors, he didn’t work alone. He was part of a scam syndicate called ‘The Enterprise’. The group targeted victims through romance scams and Business Email Compromise (BEC).
They created fake online identities to build emotional relationships with victims. After weeks or even months, trust is established. The victims are then persuaded to send large amounts of money for fake emergencies or investment opportunities.
That’s not all.
The criminals also impersonated company executives using hacked emails. They tricked employees into transferring company funds to fraudulent bank accounts that the group controlled.
How Authorities Tracked Derrick
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation in collaboration with the United States Department of Justice. After the victims raised the alarm, the investigators traced suspicious wire transfers and followed the financial trail through multiple accounts.
Through digital evidence, like email records, IP addresses, and online communication between members of the Enterprise, authorities linked the activities directly to Van Yeboah and his associates.
Following the discovery, the FBI and the United States Department of Justice worked with Ghanaian law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspects. Because the suspects were located in Ghana, the U.S. authorities worked closely with the Economic and Organised Crime Office and the Ghana Police Service.
Ghanaian authorities identified and arrested suspects locally, and evidence was gathered to support prosecution in the United States.
Van Yeboah was extradited to the United States in August 2025 to face charges.
He has since pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court and now faces the possibility of up to 20 years in prison, along with millions of dollars in restitution to victims.
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