US to Extradite Six Nigerians Over Romance Scam
US to Extradite Six Nigerians Over Romance Scam
The News
Six Nigerian men accused of fleecing American women out of more than $6 million in online romance scams are being extradited from South Africa to the United States on Friday, South African police said.
Six Nigerian nationals linked to an organized criminal network are being handed to U.S. authorities on Friday to face wire fraud and money laundering charges over online romance scams that allegedly took more than $6 million from American women.
The men were arrested in Cape Town in 2021. South African police say they targeted more than 100 women in the U.S., including pensioners and businesspeople, through elaborate online relationships.
Investigators say the six belong to a network known as the Black Axe. Interpol describes the group as part of the criminal organizations responsible for a significant share of the world's cyber-enabled financial fraud — typically romance scams and cryptocurrency and investment schemes.
Timeline
The six Nigerian nationals are arrested in Cape Town, South Africa.
Interpol says an operation targeting West African organized crime groups produced 58 arrests and identified 263 suspects tied to similar criminal networks, with the aim of disrupting money laundering, seizing assets and supporting prosecutions.
In South Africa, authorities raid seven locations in Johannesburg linked to a syndicate running romance and investment scams aimed at retirees in English-speaking countries. Police arrest 39 people and freeze $2.67 million in bank accounts.
The six are moved from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport and handed to FBI and U.S. Secret Service officials for transport to the United States.
Reactions
"Through the coordination of Interpol South Africa, the six will today be transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to Cape Town International Airport, where they will be handed over to officials from the FBI and the United States Secret Service, who arrived in South Africa this morning," said Katlego Mogale of the South African police.
Interpol, which coordinated the handover, has publicly tied West African syndicates to a large share of global cyber-enabled fraud and said last month's regional operation was built to squeeze their money laundering pipelines.
What's Next
The six men face wire fraud and money laundering charges in the United States once they are in U.S. custody.
South African police say Interpol's wider push against West African fraud networks continues, with 263 identified suspects still in investigators' sights.
More
The Numbers
More than $6 million allegedly stolen. More than 100 American women allegedly targeted. Six men extradited. Five years between the Cape Town arrests and the handover.
Romance scams work by building a relationship first and asking for money later — which is why the alleged victims here skew toward retirees and small-business owners with savings to move.
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