A German court on Thursday sentenced 12 members of a Nigerian organised crime ring to prison terms for running an international “romance scam” network that defrauded victims through fake relationships and laundered the proceeds.
The Munich court convicted the men, aged between 34 and 55, of fraud and money laundering, AFP reports. Sentences ranged from three years and four months to eight-and-a-half years.
Prosecutors said the convicts were linked to the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as the Black Axe confraternity, and ran their operation internationally. Posing under false identities — including as a US soldier stationed in the Middle East — they contacted victims mainly via social media and dating apps.
The fraudsters built trust by feigning romantic relationships before requesting money for fabricated emergencies such as medical bills, travel costs, or customs fees. Victims were mostly women, elderly people, or individuals with disabilities.
The court heard that proceeds from the scams were funnelled to the Black Axe organisation, which is based in Nigeria but operates globally. German police arrested the 12 suspects in April 2024 during coordinated raids in Bavaria, following a multi-year investigation that involved surveillance by domestic intelligence agencies.
Authorities said many victims never reported the crimes, out of shame over being manipulated. The sentencing concludes a trial that began in Munich in April 2025, in a case authorities say underscores growing concern over organised romance scam networks exploiting vulnerable people across borders.
