German Police Detain 11 Nigerian Dating Scammers

On Wednesday, 24 April 2024, German Police said that 11 alleged members of the Nigerian mafia gang responsible for a massive dating fraud had been apprehended.

According to the Bavarian Police, the Black Axe gang was active in multiple areas of criminal activity abroad, emphasising money laundering and romantic scams in Germany. Police described the dating scam as a “modern form of marriage fraud. The fraudsters, according to the Police, used false identities to signal their intention to marry and, in the course of further contact, repeatedly demanded money under various pretexts.

The officials said the funds were sent “via financial agents” to Black Axe in Nigeria. The gang employed a commodity-based money laundering method, purchasing goods frequently shipped to Nigeria with the appearance of having a “charitable purpose.” They also stated that there were almost 450 reports of romantic scams in the Bavarian region in 2023 alone, with losses totalling 5.3 million euros ($5.7 million).

Tuesday’s nationwide raids resulted in the arrest of the accused, who were all Nigerian citizens and ranged in age from 29 to 53. The police stated that 19 properties including residences and shelters for asylum seekers, were raided by law authorities, said the Police.

The investigators mentioned that the Black Axe gang operated several geographical sections with “strict hierarchical structures under leadership in Nigeria.”

The group, especially in Nigeria, significantly influenced public administration and politics. Human trafficking, fraud, money laundering, prostitution, and drug trafficking were the gang’s major operating areas worldwide.

The Neo-Black Movement of Africa was the camouflage for the gang’s infrastructure, operating under the guise of an apparent humanitarian organisation. The authorities said this was Germany’s first instance of such an action against Black Axe.

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AFP