The Bradenton Police Department has arrested a Minnesota man, Benjamin Yakah, on charges of grand theft after he allegedly stole over $100,000 from a 77-year-old widower through a Facebook Messenger scam.
According to authorities, the victim met Yakah’s online alias, “Julia,” on Facebook in late 2022. Over the next eight months, the two communicated frequently on Messenger. “Julia,” claiming to be from the United Kingdom, told the victim that she wanted to move to the United States to start a new life with him.
To facilitate her plans, “Julia” claimed she owed a debt to a man in Minnesota, and in order to start fresh, she needed to pay off this amount. The victim, trusting their online relationship, sent a significant sum of money through various methods, including cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks, which were directed to both a Minneapolis home and a bank account.
The victim’s children grew concerned and eventually contacted the Elder Fraud unit, which launched an investigation. Detectives discovered that the photos used by “Julia” were stolen from a West Virginia woman, who was unaware of the deception.
Further investigation revealed that the money the victim had sent was deposited into an account owned by Benjamin Yakah.
Elder Fraud Detective Jim Curulla, with the assistance of Bloomington Police, traveled to Minnesota, where they arrested Yakah. A search of Yakah’s apartment revealed evidence suggesting there may be additional victims.
Yakah is currently awaiting extradition to Manatee County, Florida, where he faces charges of grand theft. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities suspect there may be more individuals involved in similar scams.