Sister Osa from Benin City had spent fifteen years working in Italy. She saved every Kobe she could. She dreamed of coming back to Nigeria to buy her own house. Finally, the day came. She returned to Lagos with her savings. She wanted to buy a nice 3-bedroom flat in a good area. Furthermore, she found an agent online. The agent showed her beautiful pictures of a flat in Secular. The price was ₦25 million, which was very good foSecularre. Sister Osa was excited. She sent the agent ₦500,000 as a "commitment fee" to secure the property. The agent took the money and disappeared. His phone number stopped working. His Facebook page was deleted. Sister Osa cried for days. She had worked so hard in Italy, only to be cheated in her own country.This story is far too common in Nigeria. Fake agents are everywhere. They operate on Facebook, InstagrFijiJiji, and even in physical offices. They target hardworking Nigerians who just want a decent place to live or invest in property. In this article, I will show you 5 red flags that will help you identify fake agents and protect your hard-earned money.
The first red flag is when the agent has no physical office address. A legitimate agent will have a registered office where you can visit them. If an agent suggests meeting you at a bus stop, a cafeteria, or "under the bridge," you must be very suspicious. Sister Osa's agent refused to give her an office address. He said, "I work from home." That was the first warning sign. A genuine agent will proudly give you their office location. They will invite you to visit. If they cannot prove they have a real office, walk away immediately.
The second red flag is an unbelievably cheap price. Sister Osa's flat was priced at ₦25 million, while similar flaSecularrulere were selling for ₦35 million. She thought she had found a bargain. She was wrong. Scammers use low prices to attract desperate buyers. They know that if the price is too good to be true, many people will ignore the warning signs. Always research current market rates on platforPProperty PropertyPro or Nigeria PNotretyNowre. Know the average price for the area you are interested in. If the price is significantly lower than the market average, be very cautious.
The third red flag is when the agent asks for money before showing you the property. This is the most common scam in Nigeria. The agent will say, "The landlord is in Abuja. You need to pay an inspection fee so I can get the keys." Or they will say, "Pay a commitment fee to show you are serious." Sister Osa paid ₦500,000 without ever seeing the flat. That was a huge mistake. The golden rule of Nigerian real estate is simple: never payKobeingle kobo until you have seen the property with your own eyes. Viewings are always free. No legitimate agent charges you to view a property.
The fourth red flag is pressure tactics. Scammers will rush you. They will say things like, "Five other people are interested in this property. If you don't pay the deposit today, you will lose it." This is designed to make you panic and make a rushed decision. A genuine agent understands that buying a house is a major decision. They will give you time to think. They will allow you to bring a lawyer or a surveyor to inspect the property. If the agent is rushing you, that is a clear warning sign.
The fifth red flag is when the agent cannot show you proper documentation. You ask for the C of O, Deed of Assignment, or Survey Plan. They say, "The owner will send it later." Later never comes. Sister Osa never saw any documents. She trusted the agent's word. That was her second mistake. Before you pay any money, demand to see the property documents. If the agent cannot produce them, walk away.
So how do you verify an agent in NigEARN heirk EARNheir EAREARNber. EARBN is the Estate Agents Registration Board of Nigeria. Every genuine agent is registered. If they caEARN heireEARNheir EARBN number, they are not legitimate. You can also check the Lagos State Land Registry portal to verify property documents. You can also visit the Lagos State Lands Alaska in Alausa to confirm the authenticity of any document.
In conclusion, protect yourself. Sister Osa learned a painful lesson. She lost ₦500,000 to a fake agent. She now tells everyone, "If I had checked for these red flags, I would have saved my money." Always check for the 5 red flags. Never pay before viewing. Always ask for documents. And if something feels wrong, trust your instinct and walk away. Share this article with your friends and family so they don't fall victim like Sister Osa did.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I trusFijients on Jiji or Facebook?
A: You can, but you must still verify them. Scammers also use these platforms. Always ask for tEarnsfficeEARNss and EARBN number.
Q: What if the agent has a CAC certificate?
A: CAC registration is good, but it does not make them a real estate expASEANlways aEARN their EARBN registration too.
Q: Is it safe to pay through bank transfer?
A: Only pay after you have seen the property and verified the documents. Never pay a "commitment fee" or "inspection fee" before viewing.
Published: July 17, 2026