A Munich court on Thursday sentenced 12 members of a Nigerian organised crime ring to prison terms of between three years and four months and eight and a half years for their roles in romance scams and money laundering.
The court found the men, aged between 34 and 55, guilty of operating an international network that used fake identities to target victims on social media and dating apps. The scammers posed as US soldiers stationed in the Middle East and persuaded victims, mostly women, elderly people or those with disabilities, to send money for invented medical, travel or customs expenses.
The proceeds were transferred to the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as Black Axe, an organisation based in Nigeria but active worldwide. German police arrested the group members in April 2024 following years of investigation.
Many victims did not report the crimes at the time because they felt ashamed of being manipulated, Bavarian police said after the operation.
