An African lady who was residing in the UK has been extradited to america after being charged because the alleged mastermind behind an enormous romance rip-off that has tricked many Individuals in quest of love out of their cash.
The Division of Justice contends the scheme zeroed in on older women and men.
Federal prosecutors allege that Mona Faiz Montrage, 30, stole over $2 million by working with a bunch of West African criminals in an id fraud circle.
She has been charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one depend of wire fraud, one depend of cash laundering conspiracy, and one depend of cash laundering. Every cost carries a most sentence of 20 years in federal jail.
Montrage can be charged with one depend of being in receipt of stolen cash, against the law that carries a most sentence of 10 years in jail, and one depend of conspiracy to obtain stolen cash, which might land her 5 years in jail.
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Federal prosecutors say the posse would collectively trick aged individuals who have been searching for love in all of the incorrect social media locations by sending them emails, texts, and direct messages that proclaimed their love.
The outstanding Ghanaian influencer, who has over 3.4 million followers on Instagram and is certainly one of Ghana’s high 10 profiles in followers, was arrested within the U.Okay. on Nov. 10, 2022, and extradited on Could 12. After spending the weekend in U.S. custody, Montrage stood earlier than U.S. District Choose Paul A. Crotty on Monday, Could 15.
“As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a prison conspiracy that particularly focused older Individuals by romance scams,” U.S. Legal professional Damian Williams mentioned in a DOJ assertion launched on Could 15. “These scams may be each financially and emotionally devastating for weak victims.”
In keeping with FBI New York Discipline Workplace Assistant Director in Cost Michael J. Driscoll, Montrage engaged a couple of individuals, together with older would-be lovers, in pretend relationships that resulted in individuals sending her over $2 million.
“Romance scams – particularly people who goal older people – are of main concern. The FBI will likely be tireless in our efforts to carry fraudsters accountable within the prison justice system,” Driscoll mentioned within the assertion.
The influencer, based on allegations, had financial institution accounts arrange within the Bronx, New York, and different locations all over the world. One account was opened underneath the title of 4Reall Designs, a supposed clothes firm, prosecutors say.
One of many rationales Montrage allegedly used to steer her victims to offer her cash was so she might transport gold to america from abroad. Authorities say she additionally requested a few of her victims to make funds to resolve a pretend FBI unemployment investigation. One other means Montrage scammed her victims was by asking them to assist a pretend United States Military officer obtain funds from Afghanistan, the DOJ reported.
With one sufferer she is alleged to have used her actual title and spoke on the telephone a number of occasions with him. She satisfied the particular person they have been married, sending the sufferer a tribal marriage certificates that mentioned legally they have been married in Ghana.
In flip, the sufferer despatched his “spouse” roughly 82 wire transfers totaling about $89,000. This cash was to assist Montrage’s father’s farm in Ghana.
Publicly filed paperwork present for six years, between 2013 and 2019, she labored with a bunch of different West African rip-off artists in varied schemes. They not solely engaged in pretend digital relationships however there have been additionally some companies duped.
The collective would catfish their victims, convincing them “underneath false pretenses, to switch cash to financial institution accounts.” The wires would then go to financial institution accounts managed by members of the group.
Montrage’s lawyer, Adam Cortez, instructed the New York Put up that out of all of the six alleged victims, solely two mentioned they handled a girl. Solely one of many victims, the legal professional notes, “claims that he handled Ms. Montrage.”
Cyber fraud has been an enormous concern tackled by the Justice Division.
U.S. Legal professional Christopher R. Kavanaugh launched a video public service announcement in the beginning of Could to assist warn individuals of the various kinds of scams.
Whereas speaking about how subtle and aggressive the scammers have develop into, he mentioned, “Fraudsters are utilizing high-pressure techniques and guarantees of low or no-risk investments in an try and steal the hard-earned cash of our residents, particularly our seniors.”
The discharge added suggestions like “By no means ship cash to anybody you have no idea and analysis who you might be investing your hard-earned cash with” and “In case you really feel rushed, or in case you are instructed to not focus on the funding alternative with others, you might be being scammed.”
In 2022, the FTC launched a report that mentioned romance scams had hit a report excessive. Between 2017 and 2021, Individuals reported shedding $1.3 billion to romance scams, greater than another FTC fraud class.
The research exhibits greater than a 3rd of the nation’s romance victims who misplaced cash with their digital beaus mentioned their relationships began on Fb and Instagram.
Whereas younger individuals between the ages of 18 and 29 have been hit essentially the most in that five-year span, individuals 70 and above are hit tougher within the pockets.
People 70 and older have the very best particular person median losses at $9,000. The youthful age group, 18 to 29, has a median lack of $750.
Throughout her listening to on Monday, Montrage pleaded not responsible, the Put up reported. In keeping with her lawyer and the prosecutor, she will likely be launched this week on residence detention to her aunt’s New Jersey residence on a $500,000 bond. She can even must put on a GPS-tracking ankle monitor.
