undefined | Gardaí target ‘bogus company’ linked to Black Axe romance fraud after elderly woman scammed out of six-figure sum
Specialist detectives from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) have moved against a “bogus company” that was being used by the Black Axe criminal network to run romance‑fraud scams. In the latest case an elderly woman was swindled out of a six‑figure sum after being drawn into a fake relationship, prompting a targeted operation to dismantle the fraudulent front‑company that facilitated the con.
Two men, both in their forties and fifties, were arrested during the raid and are now being held at Clondalkin Garda Station. They are being questioned under gangland legislation, which allows the detectives to keep the suspects in custody for up to a week while they investigate their roles within the Black Axe‑linked fraud ring. Gardaí say the two operatives were key figures in the scheme, handling the financial transactions that transferred the victim’s money to accounts overseas.
The arrests form part of a broader, long‑running crackdown by the GNECB on international organised crime groups that use romance‑fraud tactics to exploit vulnerable individuals. Officials stress that the operation highlights the ongoing threat posed by the Black Axe network and signals a continued commitment to pursue and dismantle such fraudulent enterprises across Ireland.
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