How CBS News tracked down romance scammers preying on Americans

The investigation highlighted the inner workings of these scams, including the use of “boiler rooms,” where young men in Ghana are employed to engage with victims on dating sites. The scammers build trust over time by sending gifts and maintaining constant communication. Once a victim is sufficiently hooked, they are led into a larger con involving promises of lucrative investments in fictitious gold mines. These operations are not only financially devastating for the victims but also reflect a broader issue of unemployment and economic desperation in Ghana, which fuels the recruitment of young men into these criminal enterprises.

The Evolution of Scams

• Historical Context: The shift from simple email scams to complex romance scams reflects changes in technology and internet accessibility in Africa.
• Current Landscape: The Federal Trade Commission reports that American victims have lost over $10 billion to these scams, indicating a significant rise in their prevalence and sophistication.

Inside the Scammer’s World

• Boiler Rooms: CBS News uncovered the existence of “boiler rooms” in Accra, where young men are trained to deceive victims by posing as women on dating apps.
• The Role of Closers: More experienced scammers, known as “closers,” engage victims once initial trust is established, often employing deceitful tactics to maintain the illusion of a romantic relationship.

Victims’ Stories

• Case Study: One notable victim, a 75-year-old American radiologist, was convinced he was in a relationship with a woman named Grace Erskine, who was actually a syndicate boss. He lost over $700,000 to the scam, which included fabricated claims of investment in a non-existent gold mine.

The Scammers’ Justification

Many scammers rationalize their actions by citing economic hardship and the allure of a lavish lifestyle that their illegal activities afford them. They often express mixed feelings about their work, acknowledging the harm they cause while justifying their actions as a means of survival in a challenging economic environment.