BY Issah Olegor
A UK court has sentenced five men believed to be Ghanaians to lengthy prison terms after they were found guilty of orchestrating a sophisticated romance fraud and money-laundering operation that left dozens of victims devastated and financial losses surpassing £2 million.
The group, which operated between 2017 and 2024, targeted vulnerable individuals through online dating platforms, exploiting emotions and trust to defraud victims of their savings.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), while 40 victims were officially confirmed, investigators believe as many as 99 people may have been duped by the fraudulent scheme.
The Convicted Men And Their Sentences
At Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, five men received varying prison terms for their roles in the elaborate operation.
Kwabena Edusei, 37, identified as a key figure in the scheme, was handed the heaviest sentence of seven years and ten months.
Michael Quartey, 28, received five years and six months, while Fawaz Ali, 27, was sentenced to four years and ten months.
Ebenezer Tackie, 42, was jailed for four years and six months, and George Melseaux, 40, was given three years and nine months.
The court heard how the men used fake identities to pose as potential partners online, luring unsuspecting victims into relationships.
Once trust was established, the fraudsters manipulated their targets into transferring money, often under the guise of urgent personal or business needs.
A Widespread Criminal Network
Prosecutors revealed that the operation was not only limited to romance scams but also involved a broader money-laundering network.
The stolen funds were funneled through multiple bank accounts and transferred internationally to conceal their origins.
Detectives investigating the case described the operation as both “calculated” and “cold-hearted,” highlighting the emotional as well as financial toll it had on victims.
Some victims were left bankrupt, while others reported severe psychological distress after realizing they had been deceived by individuals they believed were genuine.
