100 ladies were targeted | by suspected | Nigerian romance scammers. | Bureau of Internal Investigation

After a massive international investigation including the FBI and Interpol, a South African court has charged eight Nigerians. United States authorities have requested their extradition since that country's inquiry began there and because there are so many alleged victims there.

During the last decade, they allegedly defrauded more than 100 people out of a total of nearly $7 million (£5 million). They haven't responded to the allegations in any way. As far as authorities are aware, this is the largest such bust ever made in South Africa.

The suspects, who ranged in age from 33 to 52, were apprehended in Cape Town on Tuesday after the US requested legal help. The inquiry was reportedly conducted by the FBI and US Secret Service, with assistance from South African authorities, notably the Hawks, a highly specialized police squad.

In Texas and New Jersey, the men have been charged with a wide range of offenses, including conspiracy to conduct wire fraud and mail fraud, money laundering, and grand theft auto aggravated.

Prosecutor Robin Lewis argued against bail on the grounds that the men are members of the Black Axe, a Nigeria-based international organized criminal organization that specializes in money laundering via several accounts.

The state claimed that the individuals posed a flight risk due to their continued use of purported bank accounts. If convicted, the suspects will serve a total of 20 years in prison.

There are some who believe the suspects "concocted sob tales."

Using fictitious identities, they allegedly preyed on unsuspecting individuals on dating websites. Victims from all over the globe, many of them widows or divorcees, believed they were in love relationships.

In order to gain the trust of their victims, the suspects "supposedly fabricated sob stories about why they needed money, such as taxes to release an inheritance, necessary foreign trips, crushing debt, etc - and then siphoned money from victims," according to Colonel Mogale.

As a result of the scammers' intimidation and abuse, the victims' lives were destroyed, she said.

Two suspects' next-door neighbors informed the US, on condition of anonymity, that they were startled to learn the two brothers were suspected of belonging to a Nigerian criminal gang.

"They were kind people who didn't contribute to the crime rate in the neighborhood. A South African citizen married one of the brothers "he said.

Every week, approximately ten high-end vehicles would come and go in rapid succession. A Mercedes Benz, a Jeep, and a Ferrari were among the high-end automobiles on display. Their clothing style revealed their affluence.

When the brothers' houses were searched on Tuesday, dogs could be heard barking outside the neighbor's window. Six hours were spent gathering evidence at the properties by about 60 officers from different departments. In the same neighborhood, seven additional residences were targeted for raids.

Some of the guys, according to Mr. Lewis, are illegally in the country because their passports have expired. The prosecutor also said that if the guys were released on bond, they might digitally tamper with the evidence.

A preliminary extradition hearing has been scheduled for next Tuesday and Thursday, at which a complete bail application will be presented. According to TimeLive in South Africa, the Hawks are looking for a ninth person involved in the investigation.