SAPS downplays Black Axe syndicate threat

THE SAPS cybercrimes unit has downplayed the danger a syndicate called Black Axe poses despite a warning from a company which assists victims of romance and 419 scams and a private investigations company, Royal Investigations.

The unit said there was no proof that Black Axe was targeting South Africans despite Fight Against Cyber Romance Scams assisting some 80 victims who have been duped out of millions. Operatives of the syndicate use Facebook and other dating platforms to lure unsuspecting victims.

Black Axe was reportedly active in Kempton Park and Smit Street in the Joburg CBD as well as in Parklands, Table View and Somerset West in the Western Cape.

Kempton Park is believed to be a hub for the syndicate because of its proximity to the airport. Founder and CEO of Fight Against Cyber Romance Scams, Zelda Myburgh, said the syndicate is already quite established in every province and major cities and is now moving into rural areas.

The cypercrimes unit’s spokesperson, Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, said they were only dealing with one Black Axe matter, and eight suspects were arrested.

“The matter is in court, and they are currently busy with the bail application appeals,” said Mbambo.

The unit is also dealing with 11 romance scams, where three people were arrested but would not say if they were linked to the Black Axe syndicate.

Other arrests in Joburg involving members of the syndicate involved Interpol and the FBI joining forces to extradite a suspect believed to have scammed at least 100 000 US citizens.

Victims of romance scams are usually older widowed women on online dating websites.

While very few victims who have parted with their millions have been able to recover it, Mbambo said the recovery process could take some time.

“Yes, the money can be recovered where the court is requested to make an order in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act. The difficulty is when money has been transferred to foreign destinations. The Mutual Legal Assistance process is invoked to solicit assistance from the foreign country(ies).

“This takes time. Money can also be recovered when a freezing order is obtained,” she said.

In South Africa, Black Axe has already made off with millions, with one victim losing as much as R14m and another parting with R2m over the course of just six months.

“The key to preventing people from being scammed lies in repeatedly educating the public on these types of scams,” Mbambo said.

But Myburgh paints a completely different picture of the threat Black Axe poses and says victims are coming to her for assistance instead of the police. Fight Against Cyber Romance Scams is in possession of several fake ID numbers and bank accounts, which it has brought to the attention of Home Affairs and several leading banks.

Myburgh said the scamsters are so sophisticated that often people do not even realise they are being scammed until it’s too late.

“You can have a lone guy sitting with a laptop in a garage, anywhere in the country, pretending to have a romantic interest in someone. They have this knack of luring vulnerable women into their web, and the rest is history.

“Most of these guys have not worked an honest day in their lives, so you have to wonder where the money comes from,” Myburgh said.

And while SAPS’s cybercrimes unit has not sounded the alarm, Myburgh called on South Africans to be extra vigilant.

“Just don’t do it. It’s not worth it. They make all kinds of promises of financial rewards, but in the end, you’ll be the one losing out,” she said.