South Africa is set to extradite six Nigerian nationals to the United States on Friday over allegations of online romance fraud. The men are accused of defrauding victims of more than $6 million.

According to South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks, the suspects are alleged members of an organised criminal network and are wanted by US authorities on charges including wire fraud and money laundering. They were arrested in South Africa in 2021 following a major crackdown.

The authorities said the group allegedly targeted more than 100 women in the United States through online romance or love scams. Victims reportedly included pensioners and businesspeople who were drawn into sophisticated online relationships before being persuaded to send money.

The suspects will be handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport. The case highlights the growing challenge of transnational cybercrime involving fake identities on dating platforms and social media.

Online romance scams remain a significant form of cross-border fraud, with criminals using digital platforms to gain the trust of victims before requesting financial support. Similar cases in the past have led to lengthy prison sentences for those convicted.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper