A Bronx man, Bashiru Ganiyu, 39, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution for his role in a $12 million international fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced Monday.
Ganiyu, convicted in April, participated in a Ghana-based scam that operated from 2020 to 2022. Along with a team of co-conspirators, he assumed false identities to contact over 40 victims via email, text messages, and dating apps. Many of the victims were elderly and vulnerable individuals, often living alone. Under false pretenses, victims were convinced to send money, which Ganiyu then funneled through 10 bank accounts under his control in the Bronx.
“The defendant’s conduct devastated victims around the country, including many who were looking for companionship,” said Williams. Most victims were defrauded of their savings through what appeared to be genuine relationships but were instead elaborate deceptions.
In addition to his prison sentence, Ganiyu received three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $11.7 million and pay nearly $8 million in restitution to his victims.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has previously warned about such scams, where fraudsters build trust over time to gain access to victims’ finances. She urged anyone who believes they may have been targeted by similar schemes to file a complaint online or contact her office directly.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of romance and fraud scams, particularly on elderly individuals seeking companionship.