FL Widower Lost $100K In Internet Romance Scam: Bradenton Police

BRADENTON, FL — A Minnesota man faces charges after stealing more than $100,000 from a Bradenton widower in an internet romance scam, authorities said.

After a five-months-long investigation by the Elder Fraud Unit, Benjamin Yakah, 26, was arrested in Minnesota on a charge of grand theft, according to a Bradenton Police Department news release.

He is awaiting extradition to Manatee County.

The 77-year-old victim met a woman named "Julia" on Facebook in late 2023. For the next eight
months, he communicated with "Julia" using Facebook Messenger.

The victim became convinced that "Julia" lived in the United Kingdom and was moving to the United States to begin a relationship with him, police said.

"Julia" claimed she owed money to a man in Minnesota and would relocate to Florida after paying the debt. To help expedite her relocation, the victim sent cash, money orders, and cashier checks to a home and a bank in Minneapolis, investigators said.

The victim’s' children learned of the alleged relationship with “Julia” in June and contacted
the Elder Fraud Unit.

Detectives determined that photos of "Julia" were taken from the Facebook account of a West Virginia woman without her knowledge.

The investigation also revealed that Yakah owned the bank account that received the victim's money.

Detective Jim Curulla traveled to Minnesota and arrested Yakah with the assistance of the Bloomington Police Department there. A search of Yakah's home indicated there were additional victims in other states.