Mona Faiz Montrage, known popularly as Hajia4Reall has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a West African criminal enterprise responsible for orchestrating romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals in the United States.
Operating from at least 2013 to 2019, the enterprise preyed on lonely
individuals, convincing them of romantic relationships before deceiving them
into transferring money to fraudulent accounts controlled by the group.
Montrage, a Ghanaian influencer with millions of followers, received over $2
million from victims who were misled into sending money under false pretenses,
such as transporting gold or resolving fake FBI investigations.
The criminal enterprise, specializing in romance scams, exploited the
trust of older, isolated victims by creating fake identities on social media.
Montrage played a major role in the money laundering aspect, receiving funds
under false pretenses, such as assisting a fake U.S. Army officer or resolving
a fabricated FBI investigation. Praised by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, highlighting the
diligence of law enforcement in combating cybercrime. Montrage’s sentencing
will be determined by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.
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