Diana Christine Nelson, an 80-year-old American woman from California, became the victim of a romance scam that led to her kidnapping in Ghana. It all started when she met “Mark Harmon” on Facebook in 2023—a man who turned out to be Emmanuel Adeboye, a Nigerian con artist. Despite warnings from her son, Diana fell for his charm, eventually traveling to Ghana to meet him in November 2024.
Instead of love, Diana found herself held captive in a so-called “penthouse” in Tema. Her captors demanded a $150,000 ransom, threatening her freedom. The gang confiscated her belongings, leaving her isolated and desperate.
Her son, Blake Medina, became suspicious when Diana’s house was listed for sale online. After hearing her voice on a troubling call, Blake reported the situation to the FBI, who worked with Ghanaian authorities to plan her rescue.
A clever bait-and-trace operation led police to arrest Adeboye and another accomplice, Esther, on December 11. Diana was freed, and efforts to apprehend other gang members are ongoing. This case highlights the dangers of online scams and the lengths criminals will go to exploit vulnerable individuals.
Â
