Six Nigerian nationals arrested in South Africa are being extradited to the United States to face charges over an alleged online romance scam network that reportedly defrauded more than 100 American victims of over $6 million. The men, who were arrested in Cape Town in 2021, are expected to be handed over to officials from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Secret Service before being transported to the United States.
South African police allege that the suspects were members of the criminal network and used sophisticated online relationships to target women, including pensioners and business owners, in the United States. The suspects are expected to face charges including wire fraud and money laundering. South African police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the six would be transferred from a correctional facility to Cape Town International Airport for the handover.
The case is part of wider international efforts to dismantle West African criminal networks involved in cyber-enabled financial crimes. Interpol has identified romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud and investment scams among the activities linked to organised criminal groups operating across borders. Source: agcnewsnet.com
