A Ghanaian social media influencer, Mona Faiz Montrage, has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States for her alleged involvement in a romance
scam that targeted older, single American individuals, federal prosecutors announced on Monday.
Montrage, also known as Hajia4Reall on Instagram, allegedly operated as part of a group of con artists from West Africa who used fake identities to deceive victims into believing they were in romantic relationships with them. The scams involved communication through emails, texts, and social media messages. The fraudsters would then manipulate the victims into transferring money under false pretenses, such as helping with gold transfers, resolving fake FBI investigations, or supporting fictitious US army officers in Afghanistan, according to court documents.
One victim was reportedly tricked into sending Montrage $89,000 through 82 wire transfers, under the false pretense of assisting her father's farm in Ghana. Montrage allegedly provided the victim with a tribal marriage certificate to reinforce the belief that they were married, using her real identity.
Prosecutors claim that Montrage received over $2 million in stolen funds, which were deposited into bank accounts she controlled, including one under the name of 4Reall Designs, a supposed clothing company. She is accused of laundering the money to other members of the criminal enterprise.
Montrage, who was arrested in the UK on November 10, 2022, faces charges of wire fraud, money laundering, receipt of stolen money, and conspiracy. If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The prosecution emphasizes the devastating financial and emotional impact romance scams have on vulnerable victims, and the US Attorney's Office expressed gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement partners in bringing Montrage to justice.
Montrage's lawyer stated that there are six alleged victims, but only two were involved with a woman, and only one claims to have dealt with Ms. Montrage. The defense awaits further information and evidence from prosecutors before providing additional comments. Photo by Kevin.B, Wikimedia commons.