Six Nigerians extradited to US over $6M online romance scam

2 articles

2 sources

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Updated 12.9.2026

Key Topics & People

Black Axe *Hawks online romance scam South Africa Cape Town

Coverage Framing

Legal & Judicial(2)

Avg Factuality:90%

Avg Sensationalism:Moderate

Story Timeline

Sep 12 Evening

1 articles|1 sources

online romance scamextraditionorganized criminal networkmoney launderingwire fraud

Legal & Judicial(1)

The Guardian - World News5d ago

Six Nigerians extradited to US over $6M online romance scam

Six Nigerian nationals have been extradited to the United States from South Africa to face charges related to a $6 million online romance scam. The men, arrested in Cape Town in 2021, are accused of belonging to the Black Axe criminal network, which allegedly defrauded over 100 American women. South African authorities, in collaboration with Interpol, facilitated the handover to FBI and Secret Service officials at Cape Town International Airport. The extradition is part of a broader Interpol operation targeting West African organized crime groups involved in cyber-enabled financial fraud. The suspects face wire fraud and money laundering charges.

MeasuredFactual4 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

Six Nigerian nationals were extradited to the US over alleged involvement in a $6 million online romance scam.

factual

The accused are linked to a criminal network known as the Black Axe, described by Interpol as responsible for significant cyber-enabled financial fraud.

— Interpol

factual

The men allegedly targeted over 100 women in the US, defrauding them of more than $6 million.

— South African police

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The extradition was facilitated by South African police, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Interpol South Africa, the FBI, and the US Secret Service.

— South African police

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A recent Interpol operation targeting West African organized crime groups led to 58 arrests and identification of 263 suspects.

— Interpol

Sep 11 Morning

1 articles|1 sources

romance scamsextraditionblack axeonline fraudcrime syndicate

Legal & Judicial(1)

BBC News - WorldSep 11

Six Nigerians accused of romance scams to be extradited to the US

Six Nigerian nationals are being extradited from South Africa to the United States to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering. South African police are handing the individuals over to FBI agents. The group is accused of defrauding over 100 women in the US of more than 100 million rand, approximately $6 million. Arrested in 2021, they are believed to be members of the crime syndicate Black Axe. Their victims reportedly included pensioners and businesspeople targeted through sophisticated online relationships. The extradition is scheduled to take place on Friday, with the suspects being transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to the airport.

Mixed toneFactual2 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

Six Nigerians are being extradited to the US to face charges related to online romance scams.

— South African police

statistic

The accused allegedly targeted over 100 women in the US, defrauding them of more than 100 million rand ($6 million).

— South African authorities

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They will face wire fraud and money-laundering charges in the US.

— Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale

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The individuals arrested in 2021 are believed to be members of the crime syndicate Black Axe.

— South African authorities

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Victims included pensioners and businesspeople who were defrauded through sophisticated online relationships.

— South Africa's elite Hawks police unit