Hajia4Real Pleads Guilty to Her Involvement in Romance Scams

Written By : Afua Amankwanowa


Mona Faiz Montrage, popularly known as Hajia4Reall on Instagram, has entered a guilty plea in connection with her involvement in a series of romance scams. The 31-year-old Ghanaian influencer faced charges of laundering proceeds from these scams before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave, as announced by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Hajia4Real was linked to a criminal enterprise based in West Africa, specializing in romance scams that primarily targeted vulnerable individuals, especially older men and women. Perpetrators of these scams created fake identities, establishing false romantic relationships to gain victims' trust. Once trust was established, they convinced victims to transfer money to bank accounts under their control. This unfortunate situation highlights the importance of staying vigilant and protecting oneself from such scams.

The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed that Hajia4Real received funds from multiple victims tricked by the enterprise into sending money. The scams involved various false pretenses, including payments for transporting gold, resolving fake FBI investigations, and assisting a fabricated U.S. Army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.

Hajia4Real managed bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the enterprise. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Additionally, she agreed to pay a forfeiture of $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. Sentencing is scheduled to be decided by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation received commendation for its exceptional work in this case. The Office's Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead, is handling the prosecution. It's a stark reminder to stay cautious and informed in the digital age, where scams can have real-life consequences.