Two Ghanaians arrested in US over alleged $60,000 church ‘Email Fraud’

Two Ghanaian men, Samuel Opoku and Ousmane Gassama Diaby, have been arrested in the United States over an alleged email scam that cost a church more than US$60,000.

Investigators began looking into the case in 2025, after the church reported that it had lost tens of thousands of dollars. Following months of enquiries, detectives traced the stolen money to both men and moved in on Opoku first.

How the scheme allegedly worked

Authorities say the suspects tampered with email communications and set up fake accounts to redirect payments. Church leaders believed they were sending money to genuine organisations, but the funds went elsewhere. Authorities believe Opoku was part of a group that posed as financial advisors from a real company, using fake email accounts to steer the money into a business account.

Opoku’s arrest and charges

Opoku, from Fairfax County, Virginia, faces charges of money laundering, theft by taking, initiating a deceptive commercial email and five counts of identity fraud. Virginia State Police arrested him on November 22, and he was extradited to Troup County on March 10. Police were still looking for other suspects when that case was reported.

Diaby caught on arrival

The second suspect, Diaby, was arrested in October 2026 in New Jersey, shortly after flying in from Ghana. He is based in Arlington, Virginia, and reports say authorities had wanted him for several months while he was in Ghana. His arrest on landing suggests officers were waiting for his return to the country.

A growing threat

The case is a reminder of how business email compromise, in which fraudsters pose as trusted advisers or vendors to redirect payments, can hit even small organisations such as churches, charities and community groups. These bodies often depend on volunteers and informal approval processes, which can make it easier for a forged email to slip through. Security experts commonly advise organisations to confirm any change in payment details by phone, using a number already on file, before sending money.

What remains unclear

Several details have not been made public. They include the full list of charges against Diaby, the name of the church, how the money moved between accounts and whether any of it has been recovered. It is also unclear whether the men have entered pleas or when they are due back in court. Both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the allegations have yet to be tested in court.