Six Nigerian nationals arrested in South Africa in 2021 have been extradited to the United States to face allegations of wire fraud and money laundering linked to organised romance scams.
Cybercrime experts have warned that the extradition of six alleged Black Axe members from Cape Town to the United States is only the tip of the iceberg as cybercrime continues to grow in South Africa and across the globe.
The six accused, all Nigerian nationals, were arrested in South Africa in 2021 and extradited to the US on Friday via Cape Town International Airport (CTIA). They face charges of wire fraud and money laundering involving approximately R100 million.
Experts warn that romance scams involve manipulating victims through social engineering. Criminals build relationships with victims online before stealing money, often causing serious emotional harm and damaging victims’ trust and self-worth.
Experts also said artificial-intelligence technology, including facial-recognition manipulation and distortion, could be used to deceive unsuspecting victims.
