Ghanaian social media influencer Mona Faiz Montrage, also known as Hajia4Reall, has been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States after being accused by federal prosecutors of swindling over $2 million from elderly, single American men and women in a deceptive scam targeting lonely hearts. The 30-year-old Mona Faiz Montrage, residing in Accra, Ghana, appeared in a federal court in Manhattan on Monday to face allegations of participating in a series of romance schemes that targeted older individuals living alone.
Although she pleaded not guilty to the charges, her lawyer confirmed that she would be released in the upcoming days on a $500,000 bond. To ensure her whereabouts, she will be monitored with a GPS tracking ankle monitor. Mona Faiz Montrage, who had amassed around 3.4 million Instagram followers on her Hajia4Reall page, allegedly worked with a group of scam artists from West Africa between 2013 and 2019. They assumed fake identities to deceive people into believing they were in relationships with them, using emails, texts, and social media messages.
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According to the federal authorities, the scammers convinced their victims to transfer money under false pretenses, such as aiding in the transportation of gold from overseas to the United States, resolving fictitious FBI investigations, and providing financial assistance to alleged fake US Army officers in Afghanistan. In one instance, Montrage purportedly tricked a victim into sending her $89,000 through 82 wire transfers, claiming it was to help her father’s farm in Ghana. The court documents state that she even sent the person a tribal marriage certificate after a series of phone conversations to make them believe they were married, using her real identity.
Prosecutors allege that Montrage received money from several other victims who were swindled by scammers associated with her network. The indictment claims that she collected a total of $2 million in funds, which were deposited into bank accounts she held in the Bronx and other locations, including one opened under the name of 4Reall Designs, a fictitious clothing company. The stolen money was then allegedly laundered to other members of the criminal enterprise.
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Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams stated, “Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams. These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims.” He expressed gratitude to law enforcement partners for apprehending Montrage abroad and bringing her to the United States to face justice.
The popular social media influencer, whose Instagram account was among Ghana’s top 10 most followed, was arrested in the UK on November 10, 2022, and subsequently transported to the US. She is now facing charges of wire fraud, money laundering, receipt of stolen money, and conspiracy, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.
Montrage’s lawyer, Adam Cortez, stated that at present, they are aware of six alleged victims, of which only two interacted with a woman, and only one claims to have dealt directly with Ms. Montrage. Cortez refrained from further comment until receiving additional information and evidence from the prosecutors. He mentioned that his client’s movement is limited to certain parts of New York and New Jersey while awaiting the resolution of her case.
