Story by: Listowell Yesu Bukarson
From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
Reports available to this portal say authorities in Bloomington, Minnesota have extradited to Florida, a 26-year-old Ghanaian Benjamin Yakah in a $100k elder scam.
According to authorities Yakah was arrested and charged after 5 months long investigations revealed he conned a Breadenton widower out of the sum in an internet romance scam.
A release from the Bradenton Police detailed that, “the 77-year-old victim met a woman named “Julia” on Facebook in late 2023. Over eight months, the victim communicated with “Julia” using Facebook messenger. He became convinced that “Julia” lived in the United Kingdom and was moving to the United States to begin a relationship with him.
“Julia” claimed she owed money to a man in Minnesota and would relocate to Florida after paying the debt. To help expedite her relationship, the victim sent cash, money orders, and cashier checks to a home and a bank in Minneapolis.
The victims’ children learned of the alleged relationship with “Julia” in June 2024 and contacted the Elder Fraud Unit.
Detectives determined that photos of “Julia” were taken from Facebook account of West Virginia woman without her knowledge. The investigation also revealed that Benjamin Yakah owned the bank account that received the victim’s money.
Elder Fraud Detective, Jim Curulla traveled to Minnesota and arrested Yakah with assistance from the Bloominton, MN, Police Department.
A subsequent search of Yakah’s home indicated there were additional victims in other States.
Mylybnews.com also learn that Florida court records indicate that Yakah has been charged in the State with first-degree grand theft.
Yakah, who was allowed to return to Bloomington after posting a $100,000 bond to await future court appearances is scheduled to appear in Manatee County Court for his next hearing on February. 26, 2026.
