ScamsNOW!

The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime

Unbelievable Story Of A U.S. Military Soldier Sanda G. Frimpong Involved In A Romance Scam Gang

A U.S. Soldier from Ghana becomes a real romance scam gang member

Author:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Former U.S. Army soldier Sanda G. Frimpong, formerly stationed at Fort Bragg, has been sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for his involvement in a money laundering romance scam targeting vulnerable individuals, including seniors and military veterans, from 2019 to 2022. Frimpong, 33, pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering in exchange for the dismissal of multiple charges, including wire fraud and identity theft.

His fraudulent activities, which included impersonating romantic partners and military personnel, resulted in the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars through various bank accounts and contacts in Ghana.

U.S. Attorney Michael Easley emphasized the seriousness of romance scams, particularly when perpetrated by a servicemember, while Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard stressed the importance of integrity within the armed forces. The investigation was led by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka.

Just Unbelievable: Former Army Soldier/Servicemember Sanda G. Frimpong Sentenced to Prison in Money Laundering Romance Scam

A former Fort Bragg soldier, Sanda G. Frimpong, was sent to federal prison Thursday for a fraud scheme and online romance scams that stole hundreds of thousands from vulnerable, often elderly people, from 2019 to 2022.

Sanda G. Frimpong, 33, a former Ghanaian, was a U.S. Army specialist when he was arrested on the allegations in March 2023. He pleaded guilty in September to three counts of money laundering. In exchange for the plea, multiple counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy, identity theft and device fraud were dismissed, record shows.

Sentenced to Prison

Sanda G. Frimpong, 33 (male), was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution to victims for laundering the illicit proceeds of an elaborate series of romance scams. Frimpong pled guilty to three counts of money laundering on September 14, 2023.

“Romance scammers exploit our most vulnerable citizens, even our seniors and military veterans, sometimes leaving them financially and emotionally devastated,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The fact that an Army servicemember was involved in romance scams while serving as a soldier is appalling. We are partnering with the Department of Defense to drum out fraudsters and money launderers like Frimpong from our military ranks and put them in prison where they belong.”

“Integrity is a core tenet of the armed forces and when servicemembers choose to compromise their integrity for greed, it tarnishes the reputation of all others serving in uniform,” stated Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS and its law enforcement partners will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold those accountable who cheat government programs and use online scams to prey on the most vulnerable.”

Frimpong and other conspirators, engaged in elaborate scams, impersonating romantic love interests, diplomats, customs personnel, military personnel, and other fictitious personas for the purpose of ensnaring their victims by earning their confidence, including promises of romance, sharing of an inheritance or other riches, or other scenarios intended to fraudulently induce the victims to provide money or property to the conspirators. Frimpong then laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds of these frauds through his various bank accounts across state lines and through his contacts in Ghana. Frimpong was also an active-duty Army servicemember stationed at Fort Bragg during the commission of the offenses up until shortly after his arrest in 2023.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III announced the sentence. Defense Criminal Investigative Service led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka prosecuted the case.

Arrested and Indicted

Sanda G. Frimpong, 33, was arrested on March 1st, 2023, upon the unsealing of a 19-count indictment that included charges of Money Laundering, Fraud, Conspiracy, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Access Device Fraud in connection with multiple interstate and international fraud and money-laundering scams. Frimpong, an active duty servicemember then stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, faced between up to ten and up to twenty years in prison per count, and potential fines – but instead go just 40 months.

“Online romance scams are increasingly targeting lonely, vulnerable, and often elderly victims,” stated US Attorney Michael Easley. “Our office is committed to seeking justice for fraud victims just as we are to prosecuting those who took advantage of programs intended to help unemployed and underemployed folks who struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

According to the indictment, Frimpong and other conspirators, engaged in elaborate scams, impersonating romantic love interests, diplomats, customs personnel, military personnel, and other fictitious personas for the purpose of ensnaring their victims by earning their confidence, including promises of romance, sharing of an inheritance or other riches, or other scenarios intended to fraudulently induce the victims to provide money or property to the conspirators. Frimpong allegedly laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds of these frauds through his various bank accounts across state lines and through contacts in Ghana.

Additionally, in a separate scam, according to the indictment, Frimpong and other conspirators fraudulently applied for unemployment assistance in various states, using stolen identities. This fraud included allegedly obtaining over $100,000 in funds intended for those struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic and made available via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”).

Frimpong was indicted on three counts of money laundering; seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud; three counts of aggravated identity theft; and two counts of access device fraud. Arraignment before United States District Judge James C. Dever III is scheduled to occur later this year.

Please Rate This Article

Please Leave Us Your Comment
Also, tell us of any topics we might have missed.

More Military Scam Related Information:

-/ 30 /-

What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment above!

SCARS LINKS: AgainstScams.org RomanceScamsNOW.com ContraEstafas.org ScammerPhotos.com Anyscam.com ScamsNOW.com

reporting.AgainstScams.org support.AgainstScams.org membership.AgainstScams.org donate.AgainstScams.org shop.AgainstScams.org

youtube.AgainstScams.org linkedin.AgainstScams.org facebook.AgainstScams.org

ARTICLE RATING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CATEGORIES

MOST POPULAR COMMENTED ARTICLES

POPULAR ARTICLES

U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988

ARTICLE META

Published On: April 23rd, 2024Last Updated: April 23rd, 2024Categories: • CRIMINAL JUSTICE, • CRIMES & CRIMINALS, 2024, GHANA, NEWS, SCARS Institute Editorial Team, USATags: Fake Soldier, Military Impersonation Scam, Real Soldier, Romance Scam, Sanda G. Frimpong0 CommentsTotal Views: 496Daily Views: 11059 words5.4 min read

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT LATEST SITE COMMENTS

See Comments for this Article at the Bottom of the Page

on WARNING: Scam Victims Exploited By The News Media – 2024: “Thank you for this explanation of the potential added on trauma a survivor could be exposed to. Definitely not worth…” Jul 21, 17:13
on Acknowledging The Harm Done – 2025: “Well written article explaining the harm done and why it is necessary to acknowledge it. In part it helped me…” Jul 21, 16:57
on Dear Scam Victim Family & Friends – You Are Also Scam Victims – 2024: “A scam is hard on everyone who loves and cares for the victim. The survivor goes through a lot to…” Jul 21, 14:04
on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “Jina, we redacted your comments since they do not comply with our policies. However, this does not invalidate what happened…” Jul 20, 21:45
on Waiting to See if Someone is Real – Take a Pause First – 2025: “The pause remains important…actually now the pause is critical. There is nothing, not a financial gain, an item, a meeting,…” Jul 20, 19:55
on Hate for Scammers and Criminals Feels So Good But is So Bad for Scam Victims – 2025: “I struggled for months with forgiveness. Forgiving myself and the criminals. About two months ago I prayed and forgave the…” Jul 20, 16:24
on The Paradox of Pain – 2025: “This is a great article and holds significance for me. Initially after my crime I felt such pain. It would…” Jul 20, 12:19
on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “[REDACTED FOR POLICY REASONS]” Jul 20, 11:40
on The Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims – 2024: “It will come as recovery progresses, but stopping and then restarting recovery after years makes it harder. Just keep learning…” Jul 19, 21:10
on Waiting to See if Someone is Real – Take a Pause First – 2025: “Very valuable information for all /including myself/ who still struggle with their own impulsive reactions.” Jul 19, 06:21
on The Unique Injury Of Betrayal Trauma On Scam Victims – 2024: “It’s so hard to recover the compassion and reliability in the daily communication with others especially the scam trauma was…” Jul 18, 19:38
on Aren’t We All The Same? Aren’t We All Just Meat-Robots? An essay on Humanity by Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – 2025: “excelente!!! la claridad y la profundidad del análisis son realmente impresionantes. Me aportó mucho leerlo. totalmente de acuerdo entre la…” Jul 16, 11:17
on Savior Syndrome And The Negative Consequences To Them And Other Scam Victims – 2023: “We must heal ourselves before trying to help or heal others. It is easy to get caught up in the…” Jul 16, 11:13
on Anger & Self-Radicalization – Recovery Psychology 2023: “Anger can be useful but most often it is destructive on the individual, their family and friends. I like that…” Jul 16, 10:59
on Residual Fear In Scam Victims – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]: “Thank you for another fantastic SCARS article! I have felt some fear lately, that has caused me to feel tense…” Jul 16, 10:10
on Living in the Invisible Safety Bubble – 2025: “Enlightening, thought provoking, and another SCARS article that gives me pause. Recovery is a process and takes time. In a…” Jul 16, 07:46
on Living in the Invisible Safety Bubble – 2025: “We have too many kinds of scams in Japan. Recently, there are impersonation scam of “fake Cardinal account” gathering fraud…” Jul 16, 07:27
on Motte and Bailey – A Cognitive Pattern & Defense Mechanism that Inhibits Honest Acceptance – 2025: “Important information for reflection for any survivor : -to what extent the Motte & Bailey method is present / still…” Jul 16, 07:21
on Arts and Crafts Can Significantly Aid in Recovery for Scam Victims – 2025: “Right after the scam, I didn’t want to do anything. I felt defeated and ashamed—as if I had betrayed both…” Jul 16, 00:01
on The Fallacy of Fallacies & Living in the Real World – Error in Reasoning that Makes an Opinion Seem Valid – 2025: “I didn’t know about fallacies and cognitive biases until I enrolled in the Survivor’s School. When I learned about them,…” Jul 15, 23:40

Important Information for New Scam Victims

Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery

If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

Statement About Victim Blaming

Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.

These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.

Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

SCARS INSTITUTE RESOURCES:

If You Have Been Victimized By A Scam Or Cybercrime

♦ If you are a victim of scams, go to www.ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help

♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org

♦ To report criminals, visit https://reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!

♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom

♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com

♦ Scam Survivor’s Stories: www.ScamSurvivorStories.org

♦ For Scam Victim Advocates visit www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org

♦ See more scammer photos on www.ScammerPhotos.com

You can also find the SCARS Institute on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TruthSocial

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.

More ScamsNOW.com Articles

The Native American Navajo Concept of Hozho – A Path to Inner Balance – 2025 [PDF]

Origami and Refolding Your Life for Recovery – 2025

Why do Scam Victims Have to Learn So Damn Much About Scams, Scammers, and Psychology? – 2025

The Compulsion of Risk – an Essay by Tim McGuinness Ph.D. – 2025

The Paradox of Pain – 2025

Waiting to See if Someone is Real – Take a Pause First – 2025

The Myth of Purpose – Purpose Is Not Found It’s Built – 2025

UNODC Report: How Organized Criminal Groups Deceive and Fraud – 2025

A Question of Trust

At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.

TOP OF PAGE