How to avoid property scams in Nigeria: checks before you pay a deposit

Separate three different questions

A property that exists is not the same as a property that can be sold to you. Before paying, you need a clear answer to each of these:

1. Does the property exist where it is described? You or someone you trust should inspect it in person.
2. Does this seller have the right to sell or let it? The person or company you are dealing with must be the owner, or hold written authority from the owner.
3. Do the documents match the official record? Title documents should be checked against the records of the land registry that actually covers the location.

Fraud often relies on a buyer treating a “yes” to the first question as a “yes” to all three. Officials in the Federal Capital Territory have publicly warned residents about fake land titles and about buying land from people who cannot lawfully sell it.

Checks to make before you pay anything

• Inspect the property. Visit at different times if you can, speak to neighbours, and confirm the access road and boundaries you are shown.
• Confirm who you are dealing with. Ask for the seller’s identification and, for a company, its registered name and RC number, which you can look up through the Corporate Affairs Commission’s public search.
• Ask for copies of the title documents early, and have your lawyer conduct an official search at the land registry for that location. In Abuja, check first whether the land is in the FCT or in a neighbouring state — see Abuja or Nasarawa? Check which land registry applies.
• Check the people in the middle. If an agent is involved, ask for written proof that the owner has authorised them. In Lagos, real estate practitioners are required to register with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).
• Pay the right party, the right way. Pay into an account in the name of the seller or the selling company, after your lawyer has confirmed the arrangement — not into a third party’s personal account or in cash.
• Get everything in writing. A signed agreement and a receipt should state what the payment is for, the property it relates to, and what happens to the money if the transaction does not go ahead.

Questions to ask before paying a deposit

Ask these in writing, keep the answers, and share them with your lawyer:

• Who exactly owns the property, and how is that ownership shown?
• Which title document exists for this exact plot or unit, which authority issued it, and may my lawyer search it?
• Is the property, or any part of it, subject to a dispute, a mortgage or a government acquisition that you are aware of?
• Who will receive my payment, and in whose name is the account?
• What is the deposit for, and what are the conditions for a refund if the search or inspection reveals a problem?
• What documents will I receive when I pay in full, and who is responsible for any further registration or consent?
• For a building: is there planning or building approval for what has been built?
• For a rental: are you the landlord, or authorised by the landlord in writing? What is the full breakdown of charges due at move-in?

If you are renting

Rental scams commonly involve someone collecting rent or a deposit for a home they do not control. Do not pay for a home you have not viewed, ask to see evidence that the person you are dealing with is the landlord or is authorised by the landlord, and insist on a written tenancy agreement.

On Landora, rental listings show the rent period and the move-in charges the advertiser has disclosed, so you can compare what you are being asked to pay with what was advertised. Browse homes to rent.

What Landora does — and does not — do

Landora reviews partners through onboarding and reviews listings before they are published. Each listing’s Property Passport shows which checks Landora has confirmed and which it has not. A listing on Landora is not a guarantee of title, ownership or price.

Landora does not hold deposits or purchase money and does not provide an escrow service. Always complete your own checks with independent professionals before you pay or sign anything. See Help for how enquiries and the Property Passport work.

If something goes wrong

Stop further payments, keep every message, receipt and document, and speak to your lawyer. Suspected fraud can be reported to the Nigeria Police Force or to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).