Six Nigerian men arrested in South Africa over an alleged international romance scam are set to be extradited to the United States to face charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The suspects, who were arrested in 2021 during a major operation against organised criminal networks, are alleged to have defrauded more than 100 victims in the United States of over R100 million, estimated at about $6.2 million.
South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks, said the suspects are wanted by American authorities in connection with the alleged financial crimes.
According to the police, the men allegedly targeted women in the United States through online dating platforms and social media, where they reportedly established fake romantic relationships with their victims.
The suspects allegedly gained the trust of their targets before persuading them to send money under various false pretences.
Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said some of the alleged victims were pensioners and business owners.
Mogale explained that the suspects were accused of using sophisticated online relationships to manipulate victims into handing over their money.
She said the six Nigerians would be handed over to officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport on Friday.
The suspects have reportedly been linked by South African authorities to the organised criminal group known as Black Axe.
Romance scams have become a growing form of international cybercrime, with criminals using fake identities and fabricated relationships to deceive unsuspecting victims.
The extradition is expected to allow the US authorities to prosecute the suspects over the alleged financial offences before American courts.
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