You may not have heard of them, but the people of Nigeria have. The Black Axe is an organized crime group that some call “elusive”. They are known to terrify Nigerians and have a shocking level of influence over life in Nigeria.
They are part of organized crime, and police fear them just as much as Nigerian citizens do. The group is now in Canada. Read on to discover if they’re coming to your town or city next!
What Is the Black Axe?
The FBI knows the Black Axe well. Although they stem from Nigeria, FBI agents have been able to link the group to U.S. crime. Not only that, what started as a fraternal organization has evolved into a more massive crime ring.
At first, they were only a fraternal organization that began in the 1970s. Once they entered into scams, their crimes have cost the world millions of dollars in stolen money from innocent victims!
How did the FBI unmask these con artists?
A check fraud scam of around 100k was the start of the recent exposure. The crime happened to a law firm in Georgia, and the money somehow went into Tampa, Florida accounts, and then was redistributed to other overseas accounts.
A probe commenced, and one specific man was implicated: Ikechuwku or “Ike” Amadi, age 38. Amadi is a Nigerian citizen with dual Canadian citizenship, and the FBI alleges that he works for the Black Axe Group. He now faces 15 years in federal prison.
Types of Black Axe Scams
Scammers, like those members of the Black Axe, don’t only rely on one type of scam. They use several, including:
Romance Scams
Black Axe scammers pose as real suitors and daters on romance websites. They target wealthy or financially secure singles and widows. They con their victims with lies and declarations of undying love. They falsely express their desire for a long term, lasting love relationship. Soon enough, they ask for money, and the victim gives it to them, as they trust the con artist.
Phony Cashier’s Checks
Phony cashiers checks were given to real people and companies. Unfortunately, for the Black Axe members, this is part of their ongoing scam.
Fake Real Estate Transactions
Similar to the cashier check scams, title companies are given fake cashier’s checks for real estate.
Email Spoofing
Email spoofing scams targeted businesses, including law firms. Innocent employees click on links that seemed connected to reputable websites but aren’t. They enter private information on fake scam sites. Other times, these businesses are hacked.
Protect Yourself
- Verify checks that you receive are real, before depositing them.
- Don’t trust anyone, you haven’t met in person, especially when it comes to romance and if they ask for money.
- Look at the hyperlinks in email and which URL you are being directed to.
- Keep your private information protected.
While it can be scary to think about scammers, you can stay safe with common sense, education, and by searching your online connections through Social Catfish. We provide you with an algorithm based, high powered tools to search for anyone by name, username, email address, phone number, and image.
We scour all of the popular search engines and let you know all the relevant results. Use the search bar below to find out if a catfish or scammer is scamming you: