Five accused leaders of the Black Axe international crime ring were extradited from South Africa to face charges in federal court in Trenton, U.S. prosecutors said. The men appeared in court in Trenton on Monday after their extradition on Friday on wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft charges, federal prosecutors said. Authorities say Black Axe targeted people looking for love through social media and dating apps. Prosecutors allege that once a victim was hooked, scammers spun stories about traveling to South Africa for work and needing money after an emergency. Federal prosecutors said the alleged operation spanned from at least 2011 through 2021. The scam activity was not limited to romance fraud, with prosecutors also describing advance-fee schemes and business email compromises, and saying proceeds were moved through accounts and businesses to obscure where the money came from. A two-year BBC Africa Eye investigation found Black Axe members ran an ultra-violent cult spanning four continents. The investigation described Axemen using secret online forums to share photos of murders, keep a tally of rivals they killed, and discuss fraud schemes. Prosecutors identified the accused men as Perry Osagiede, 57, and Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42, along with Osariemen Eric Clement, 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42; and Musa Mudashiru, 38. Prosecutors said each man used multiple aliases. The Justice Department is asking anyone who believes they were victimized to come forward. It created a questionnaire for alleged Black Axe victims, which can be emailed to blackaxevictims@fbi.gov. The five men are in federal court proceedings in Trenton, charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, after being extradited from South Africa.