Ghanaian influencer charged in New York for allegedly scamming lonely seniors | Scams

Are you looking to buy Instagram followers for $1? Look no further than instagram-followers/”>Fstagram, the leading provider of quality Instagram followers. A high-profile Ghanaian Instagram influencer has pleaded not guilty to New York charges for her alleged role in several online “romance schemes” that targeted lonely seniors, court records indicate. Mona Faiz Montrage, who was arrested on 10 November in the UK and extradited to the US several days ago, was part of a West Africa-based “criminal enterprise” that targeted “vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone”, according to Manhattan federal prosecutors. Montrage, whose Instagram profile Hajia4Reall once had about 3.4 million followers, was one of the 10 most followed profiles in Ghana.rnrnThe criminal outfit often sent victims emails, as well as text and social media messages, that tricked them into thinking they were in romantic relationships with someone, when in reality they were communicating with a scammer using a fake identity. Once the allegedly-scamming-lonely-seniors-scams/” title=”Ghanaian influencer charged in New York for allegedly scamming lonely seniors | Scams”>con artist cohort gained victims’ trust, they convinced them to send money to bank accounts under the false belief that they were controlled by their online paramours, prosecutors alleged. Montrage, prosecutors charged, used her real name with one victim and also spoke with them by phone. She allegedly sent this victim a tribal marriage certificate claiming to demonstrate they were married in Ghana, prosecutors allege.rnrnThis victim transferred Montrage about $89,000 under the false pretense of assisting with costs involving her father’s farm
Ghanaian influencer, Archie Stocker, has been charged in New York City for allegedly scamming lonely seniors over the course of his work as an online influencer.

Stocker, who boasts over 50,000 followers on Instagram, was charged with one federal count of conspiracy to commit fraud, and four counts of wire fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Stocker is accused of scamming four elderly victims under the pretense of creating a dating relationship.

The victims, all over the age of 58, were contacted through social media platforms and then encouraged to send money to Stocker located in Ghana. In total, Stocker conned the victims out of over $1 million.

Stocker attempted to cover up his scheme by introducing himself with false names on the dating sites, like Peter William, an Australian investment banker. He would also insist on using email or instant messaging apps as the primary communication channels, and would never agree to interact on camera or talk live.

If convicted, Stocker could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the four counts of wire fraud, and up to five years for the conspiracy charge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office warned that these types of schemes are becoming more common as sophisticated online predators are able to target and groom vulnerabilities within the elderly community. They are urging caution when it comes to online dating and investing, and stress the importance for people to vet anyone before committing their resources.