Six Nigerians accused of defrauding more than 100 women in the United States through elaborate online romance scams are set to be extradited from South Africa to face criminal charges in the US.
South African authorities said the suspects allegedly defrauded their victims of more than 100 million rand, estimated at about $6 million, through fake online relationships.
The six Nigerians were arrested in South Africa in 2021 and are believed by investigators to be members of Black Axe, a Nigerian organised crime network that authorities have linked to internet fraud and other serious crimes.
South Africa’s elite Hawks police unit said some of the alleged victims were pensioners and businesspeople who were targeted through sophisticated online relationships designed to gain their trust before money was demanded.
According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale, the suspects were scheduled to be transferred from a correctional facility in Cape Town to the airport, where they would be handed over to officials from the FBI and United States Secret Service.
The suspects are expected to face charges including wire fraud and money laundering after arriving in the United States.
The identities of the six men have not been publicly released by South African or US authorities.
US prosecutors have previously alleged that members of the network used social media platforms, online dating websites and internet-based telephone services to identify and establish relationships with victims.
Investigators said the suspects allegedly operated under different aliases and created false identities to convince victims that they were involved in genuine romantic relationships.
In some cases, the alleged conspirators reportedly persuaded victims to send money after claiming that they had encountered financial emergencies.
One alleged scenario involved a fake online love interest claiming to be travelling to Cape Town to work on a construction project.
The person would allegedly tell the victim that they had been robbed and ask for a phone or other electronic devices to be sent to South Africa.
Other victims were allegedly asked to provide loans to cover supposed repairs to a faulty crane at a construction site, legal expenses following an accident or foreign taxes needed to release money allegedly owed to the fraudster.
Black Axe, which originated in Nigeria, has been the subject of international investigations into organised cybercrime and other criminal activities.
US authorities began major investigations into alleged Black Axe-linked internet fraud operations several years ago, with FBI operations in 2019 and 2021 leading to charges against dozens of people.
US prosecutors have alleged that members of the network participated in large-scale romance scams and advance-fee fraud targeting victims in the United States.
Investigators also alleged that proceeds were moved through bank accounts in different countries, including South Africa.
In some cases, victims were allegedly persuaded to open US-based financial accounts that members of the criminal network could subsequently access.The extradition comes amid continuing international efforts to dismantle West African cybercrime networks operating across borders.
Interpol said a recent operation conducted between November 2025 and June 2026 resulted in raids on seven locations in South Africa linked to a syndicate allegedly involved in romance and investment scams.
The operation led to the arrest of 39 people, while authorities seized money and blocked more than 250 bank accounts.
South African and US authorities are continuing investigations into the alleged activities of the suspects and their wider network.
The six Nigerians will now face the US justice system, where prosecutors will have to establish the allegations against them in court.
