German authorities announced a major crackdown on Wednesday, arresting 11 suspected members of a Nigerian mafia group believed to be responsible for a large-scale dating scam.
“Bavarian police said in a statement,” the Black Axe gang, known for its international criminal activity, focused on exploiting victims in Germany through elaborate online dating schemes and money laundering operations.
“Using false identities, the fraudsters for example signalled their intention to marry and in the course of further contact repeatedly demanded money under various pretexts,” police explained, highlighting the scam’s resemblance to “a modern form of marriage fraud.”
Authorities say the victims’ funds were then funneled back to Black Axe in Nigeria through a network of “financial agents.” The gang also employed a “commodity-based money laundering” scheme, where seemingly charitable donations were used to purchase and ship goods to Nigeria.
The seriousness of the problem is underscored by the statistics. In Bavaria alone, over 450 romance scams were reported in 2023, resulting in losses exceeding €5.3 million.
Police described the Black Axe as a well-organized criminal group with “strict hierarchical structures under leadership in Nigeria” that oversees operations in different regions.
They further emphasized the gang’s extensive influence, stating it has “a significant influence on politics and public administrations, in particular in Nigeria.”
