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Members of ‘Black Axe’ cybercriminal group extradited from South Africa

Five Black Axe members extradited from South Africa face US wire fraud and money laundering charges over romance scams defrauding more than 100 victims.

Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, Osariemen Eric Clement, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor and Musa Mudashiru, leaders of Black Axe's Cape Town branch, were extradited September 11 and appear before a federal judge in Trenton, New Jersey under a 2021 indictment. They ran romance scams from 2011 to 2021 that stole thousands of dollars from over 100 people, threatening to leak sensitive photos and laundering proceeds through South African companies; some funds also traced to business email compromise. Wire fraud and money laundering charges each carry up to 20 years. Treasury estimates $12.7 billion stolen from Americans since 2023 via overseas romance and investment scams.

The Recordupdated · 2d agofirst · 2d agoPolicy & legal 3 sources

Black Axe Members Extradited to US Over Internet Fraud Claims

Five alleged Black Axe leaders were extradited from South Africa to the US over romance scam and money laundering charges.

Five Nigerian nationals who allegedly led Black Axe's Cape Town zone were extradited to the US on September 11 and appeared in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey on September 14. The superseding indictment alleges romance scams, advance-fee fraud, BEC, and money laundering via US bank accounts between 2011 and 2021, using social media, dating sites, and VoIP, with coercion via threats to distribute victims' intimate photos. Charges include wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy carrying up to 20 years each, plus aggravated identity theft for three defendants.

Infosecurity Magazine · 2d agoPolicy & legal

Suspected Black Axe gang leaders face cybercrime charges in the US

Five alleged Black Axe leaders extradited from South Africa to the US face wire fraud and money laundering charges over romance scams.

Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede, Osariemen Clement, Collins Otughwor, and Musa Mudashiru were extradited to the US on September 11, 2026, accused of running advance-fee and romance scams from Cape Town between 2011 and 2021. Victims were deceived via dating sites, aliases, and VoIP numbers, and coerced with threats to publish sensitive photos. The case follows Operation Jackal IV, which arrested 58 people across 22 countries; Black Axe is estimated to have 30,000 registered members.

BleepingComputer · 2d agoPolicy & legal

58 Arrested In International Cybercrime Crackdown

Interpol's Operation Jackal IV arrested 58 people across 22 countries, disrupting Black Axe-linked money laundering and fraud networks and uncovering $166 million.

Law enforcement in 22 countries coordinated on Operation Jackal IV from November 2025 to June 2026, arresting 58 people and identifying hundreds of suspects, Interpol announced. Actions in Argentina uncovered a 196-person crime-as-a-service network providing domains and money laundering support to Black Axe, with 17 arrests there; South African raids in Johannesburg linked to romance and investment scams targeting the elderly led to 39 arrests and about $2.7 million seized. Romanian investigators found $166 million in stolen and laundered funds in electronic wallets controlled by a cryptocurrency investment scam call center, making 11 arrests and seizing about $379,000 plus properties and luxury watches. Interpol also flagged rising sextortion of minors as young as 14 via social media and gaming platforms.

The Record · 22d agoPolicy & legal

INTERPOL Operation Jackal IV Arrests 58, Identifies 263 in Global Cyber Fraud Crackdown

INTERPOL's Operation Jackal IV arrested 58 and identified 263 suspects in West African cyber-fraud networks, seizing millions across 22 countries.

Operation Jackal IV, run by INTERPOL with 22 countries between November 2025 and June 2026, targeted West African organized crime groups such as Black Ace behind romance, investment, and business email compromise fraud. It produced 58 arrests and 263 identified suspects, including 17 arrests tied to a crime-as-a-service network providing domains and money laundering support to 196 identified individuals. Raids in Johannesburg netted 39 arrests, $2.67 million seized, and 257 blocked bank accounts, while a Romanian call-center investment scheme had stolen an estimated 143 million euros (~$166 million) and led to 11 arrests. The operation is the fourth iteration, following waves in 2022, 2023, and 2024 with 75, 103, and 300 arrests respectively.

The Hacker News · 22d agoPolicy & legal

U.S. Disrupts Xinbi Guarantee Scam Marketplace, Freezes $52.8 Million in Crypto

US DOJ and Treasury disrupt Xinbi Guarantee Telegram scam marketplace, sanctioning it and freezing $52.8M in USDT across 52 wallets.

The DOJ seized Xinbi Guarantee's Telegram channels and cryptocurrency wallets while OFAC sanctioned the marketplace, freezing $52.8 million in USDT from 52 wallets and bringing the Scam Center Strike Force's total restrained funds to roughly $938 million. Elliptic, which worked with the Secret Service, estimates Xinbi has processed $30 billion in transactions since around 2022, serving pig-butchering scam operators and links to North Korean hackers, Jin Bei Group, and Prince Group TCO. The strike force dismantled 13 scam compounds in Madagascar, seizing over 3,200 devices and interviewing roughly 400 arrestees, with about 30 Chinese compound leaders repatriated to China. After Tether froze funds, Xinbi began converting remaining USDT into the USDD stablecoin.

The Hacker News · 7d agoPolicy & legal

Grindr settles HIV status data-sharing lawsuit for $35 million

Grindr agreed to pay about $35 million to settle a UK privacy suit alleging it shared users' HIV status and sensitive data with advertisers without consent.

The claim, brought by London firm Austen Hays on behalf of roughly 12,000 UK users, alleges Grindr breached privacy and data-protection laws during a period ending in early 2020, when it was owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech. Shared data may have included ethnicity, HIV status, last HIV test date, and PrEP use. Per an SEC filing, Grindr will make two payments of £13 million (totaling about $35 million), one by December 31, 2026 and one by March 31, 2027, without admitting liability. The settlement follows a Norwegian Data Protection Authority enforcement finding over ad sharing without a valid legal basis.

Malwarebytes Labs · 9d agoPolicy & legal

Trump taps cyber firms to go on offensive against criminals

Presidential memorandum allows vetted private companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against transnational cybercrime with advance DOJ and DHS approval.

A presidential memorandum released Wednesday lets vetted US companies partner with the Justice and Homeland Security departments on offensive operations and surveillance targeting transnational cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes, with written pre-approval required for every operation. Operations may not cause loss of life or rise to the level of use of force or armed attack under international law. Participating firms face penalties of at least $1 million for contract violations, must disclose all contractual relationships, and face annual evaluation, while agencies have two months to develop participation standards. The move builds on a March executive order; the White House says Americans reported $20.8 billion in cyber-related losses last year.

The Record · Aug 13, 2026Policy & legal

Risky Bulletin: Dutch intel services to get extensive new powers

Netherlands proposed a bill granting AIVD and MIVD expanded warrantless tapping, faster hacking powers, and forced data disclosure, citing Russia, China, and Iran threats.

The Dutch government introduced a bill greatly expanding surveillance powers of intelligence agencies AIVD and MIVD, allowing up to one year of tapping without pre-approval and simplified hacking operations against 'foreign adversaries'. Agencies could compel Dutch companies or citizens to provide data under threat of charges, share data with the private sector, and oversight bodies would merge into a new CTT board. The bill follows similar overhauls in Ireland, Germany, and France after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The newsletter also reports Moonwell hacked for $8.7M, a Cosmos EVM bug exploited for ~$3M, ShinyHunters listing McKesson with claimed hundreds of millions of records, and a pro-Kremlin DDoS claim against Norway's government network.

Risky Business News · 17d agoPolicy & legal

US, Britain to coordinate on scam center takedowns

The US and UK signed an MOU to jointly investigate Southeast Asian scam compounds behind fraud that stole over $12 billion from Americans last year.

The DOJ and UK's National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecutor signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday for parallel investigations and information sharing on scam centers, largely run by Chinese gangs using human trafficking victims in compounds across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. The Scam Center Strike Force, with more than 150 personnel from the FBI, IRS, and US Postal Inspection Service, leads the effort; the FBI says cyber-enabled fraud accounted for almost 85% of reported losses, with over $12 billion stolen from Americans last year. An in-person disruption event with private industry partners is planned in London in early October. The initiative follows sanctions on Prince Group and a roughly $15 billion bitcoin seizure linked to its CEO Chen Zhi.

The Record · 12d agoPolicy & legal