US authorities have charged 7 Nigerian leaders of the Cape Town Zone of ‘Black Axe’ – the Neo Black Movement of Africa – and an eighth co-conspirator who is at large, with multiple federal crimes, such as wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, ML conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. All charges were related to internet scams that they had carried out from South Africa between 2011 and 2021.
Six of the defendants were Black Axe leaders who participated in internet fraud schemes, including romance scams and advance fee schemes. They used aliases to find US-based victims on social media websites and online dating websites. They would then use voice over internet protocol phone numbers to talk with the victims, claiming to be in need of funds while traveling to South Africa for work.
The romance scheme victims sent money and even valuable items to South Africa and other overseas locations. If a victim was unsure about sending the money, the conspirators used manipulative tactics such as threatening to distribute their sensitive photographs. Additionally, the conspirators laundered illicit funds from business email compromise schemes. They used shell companies to conceal the sources of these funds. Notably, South African authorities have arrested 7 of the defendants, who are to be extradited to the US after their local hearings.
Source: US Department of Justice