Five Alleged Black Axe Leaders Extradited to US for Romance Scam Operations
Five alleged leaders of the Black Axe cybercrime group's South African wing have been extradited to the U.S. to face charges related to extensive romance and advance fee scams.
Five alleged leaders of the South African wing of Black Axe, a global cybercrime group with operations spanning dozens of countries, were extradited to the United States Friday to face multiple charges, the Justice Department announced. Officials accuse the five individuals, all originally from Nigeria, of orchestrating romance scams and advance fee scams from at least 2011 until their arrests in South Africa in 2021. The defendants were scheduled for initial court appearances and arraignments in a federal court in Trenton, New Jersey.
"Black Axe is a notoriously violent transnational criminal organization that also happens to dabble in romance scams to make money," said Stefanie Roddy, special agent in charge of the FBI Newark field office, in a statement. "The ability of FBI Newark and our partner agencies to reach into South Africa illustrates our resolve to hold accountable any and every type of fraudster who preys on innocent victims here in the United States."
The accused include Perry Osagiede, identified as the founder and leader of the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, the zone’s “chief ihaza”; Osariemen Eric Clement, the “assistant eye of the zone”; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, the zone’s “chief eye”; and Musa Mudashiru, one of the group’s “assistant butchers.” Prosecutors detailed how the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly used fake identities to pose as love interests, relatives, or friends to trick victims into sending them money. Common scam narratives involved claims of needing funds for work travel, or to cover financial hardships following alleged unfortunate events, such as issues with a construction site, delayed inheritances, or expensive medical costs for claimed relatives, according to an unsealed indictment.
Beyond direct financial requests, prosecutors stated that co-conspirators also utilized business entities and gained access to victims' financial accounts to launder the illegally obtained funds. In some instances, the alleged Black Axe members resorted to threats, including the distribution of sensitive photos, to coerce victims into complying when they hesitated to send money.
This extradition follows a significant increase in international law enforcement actions targeting Black Axe. In January, authorities arrested 34 alleged cybercriminals in Spain, including some Black Axe leaders, for involvement in adversary-in-the-middle scams, business email compromise, money laundering, and vehicle trafficking. More recently, a multi-country sting operation in August resulted in the seizure of millions in assets, the arrest of 58 individuals, and the identification of 263 suspects, including members of Black Axe.
Black Axe is known for its highly structured, hierarchical organization, reportedly generating billions of dollars annually from numerous small-scale operations across dozens of countries. All five extradited individuals face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Perry Osagiede and Franklyn Osagiede also face charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, while Clement is charged with wire fraud and Otughwor with aggravated identity theft. The combined charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 62 years in prison.
"This case reflects the result of a years-long effort by the U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who allegedly preyed on victims through sophisticated online fraud and money laundering schemes," said Craig Marech, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Newark field office. The Justice Department has published additional details about the Cape Town Zone wing of Black Axe, including aliases and business entities used by its members, and is encouraging potential victims to contact the FBI.
The five alleged members of the Black Axe cybercriminal organization, originally from Nigeria but operating the Cape Town branch, have been extradited to the U.S. to face charges stemming from a 2021 indictment. They are accused of running romance scams from 2011 to 2021, defrauding over 100 victims of thousands of dollars, and are also linked to business email compromises. This extradition follows Interpol's recent arrest of 58 individuals across 22 countries for their alleged involvement with Black Axe, highlighting ongoing international efforts against the group.