Minnesota Man Arrested in $100K Romance Scam Targeting Bradenton Widower
A months-long investigation led by the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit culminated in the arrest of a Minnesota man accused of defrauding a Bradenton widower out of more than $100,000 in an internet romance scheme. Benjamin Yakah, 26, faces a grand theft charge after allegedly orchestrating an elaborate online scam that spanned multiple states and involved identity deception and false promises.
The 77-year-old Bradenton resident first encountered a woman he believed to be named "Julia" through Facebook in late 2023. The two communicated extensively over the following eight months, with "Julia" describing her life in the United Kingdom and her plans to move to the United States to be with him. During their exchanges, "Julia" convinced the victim she was in debt to a man in Minnesota, claiming that once she paid off the debt, she could relocate to Florida.
In an effort to help "Julia" expedite her move, the victim sent significant funds through cash, money orders, and cashier checks directed to locations in Minneapolis. The scheme began to unravel when the victim’s children became aware of his involvement with "Julia" and grew suspicious of the relationship. They alerted the Elder Fraud Unit, which swiftly took action to investigate the matter.
Detectives discovered that the photos of "Julia" had been taken from a Facebook account belonging to a West Virginia woman, entirely without her knowledge. Further investigation linked Yakah to the bank account that had received the Bradenton man's funds. Working in collaboration with the Bloomington Police Department in Minnesota, Elder Fraud Detective Jim Curulla traveled to Minnesota to arrest Yakah. A search of Yakah's residence uncovered evidence suggesting additional victims across multiple states.
Yakah remains in Minnesota, awaiting extradition to Manatee County, where he will face formal charges. The Elder Fraud Unit continues to investigate the case to identify and assist other potential victims. For resources on preventing scams and protecting vulnerable family members, residents are encouraged to visit the Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit online at Bradentonpd.com/Elder-Fraud-Unit.