On November 14, 2024, the Bradenton Police Department in Florida arrested 26-year-old Minneapolis, Minnesota resident Benjamin Yakah for stealing over $100,000 from a 77-year-old Bradenton widower through a romance scam facilitated through Facebook Messenger. In the scam, Yakah posed as a Briton by the name of “Julia,” planning to relocate to Florida to start a relationship and pay off her nonexistent debt to the widower, who was asked to send cash, money orders and cashier checks.
Police have confirmed that Yakah has scammed additional victims in other states and that Yakah will be extradited to Manatee County, Florida on charges of grand theft.
https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/crime/article295546029.html