Is This Property Genuine? How to Avoid Property Scams in Nigeria | Proptiva Africa
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Property scam check · Nigeria

Before you pay a kobo, check it’s real.

Land sold twice, forged titles, government land and developers who vanish. Here is how to check that a property, a land deal or a property company in Nigeria is genuine, and how to get it verified if you cannot check it yourself.

  • Free risk check
  • Registry and survey checks by partner professionals
  • Photos and a written record
How the scams work

Six property scams Nigerians keep falling for

Most victims are not careless. These schemes are built to look legitimate, and they rely on buyers who cannot be on the ground, which is why people abroad are hit hardest.

Sold twiceThe same plot is sold to several buyers. Whoever builds first discovers the others.
Government landThe land is under government acquisition or committed for a public project, so no private title can be valid.
Omo onile demandsFamily or community "owners" demand fresh payments, or the land was never properly excised from them.
Forged documentsA fake C of O, survey plan or deed, often shared only as photos or photocopies.
Off-plan that never risesPayments for a development with no building approval, no progress, or a company that disappears.
Fake agents and listingsSomeone online who is not the owner collects an inspection fee, deposit or rent, then goes silent.
Red flags

Stop and check if you notice any of these

  • You are pushed to pay today: "other buyers are waiting".
  • The price is far below what similar property nearby sells for.
  • You can only see the documents as photos, never the originals.
  • You are told not to visit, or a visit keeps being postponed.
  • Payment goes to a personal account, or a name that is not on the title.
  • The company has no verifiable office, CAC record or track record.
  • There is no written contract, or the receipt is handwritten and vague.
  • The "agent" will not let you speak to the actual owner.
The checks

How to verify a property, and the company selling it

These are the checks a careful buyer runs before paying. You can do some yourself; others need a lawyer or surveyor on the ground.

The land or building

  1. Search the title at the Land RegistryA search at the state land registry confirms who owns the title, and whether it is mortgaged or under dispute.
  2. Chart the survey planThe Surveyor-General's office charts the coordinates to confirm the land is not under government acquisition or committed land.
  3. Check the title typeKnow what you are buying: C of O, Governor's Consent, a registered deed, or an excision and gazette for community land.
  4. Visit, and meet the neighboursSee the land or building in person, check the boundaries, and ask who is known to own it.

The company or agent

  1. Look the company up on CACThe Corporate Affairs Commission public search shows whether the company exists, its number and its directors.
  2. Check its regulator registrationIn Lagos, real estate firms and agents should be registered with LASRERA. Real estate firms should also be registered with the EFCC's SCUML unit.
  3. Check the project approvalFor off-plan homes, ask for the building approval and see the site for yourself.
  4. Pay the company, not a personPay only into an account in the company's registered name, against a written contract and receipt.
Keep copies of everything: the title, survey plan, receipts, contract and every message. Proptiva coordinates these checks with qualified partner lawyers and surveyors and does not itself give legal advice.
Free 2-minute check

How risky is the deal in front of you?

  • Eight questions about the property, the seller and the payment.
  • An instant risk level with the checks still missing.
  • Nothing is saved or sent. The check runs on your device.

1. Have you, or someone you trust, visited the property in person?

2. Have you seen the original title documents, not just photos?

3. Has a search been done on the title at the land registry?

4. Has the survey plan been charted to confirm the land is not under government acquisition?

5. Is the seller's name the same on the title, their ID and the account you will pay into?

6. Can you confirm the company is registered with CAC (and LASRERA, in Lagos)?

7. Is the price close to what similar property nearby sells for?

8. Are you being given time to check, without pressure to pay today?

We’ll check it for you

Get the property verified before you pay

Can’t be in Nigeria to check it yourself? Our team visits the property, and our partner lawyers and surveyors run the registry and survey checks. You get photos, video and a written record of what is confirmed, and what is not.

DocumentsTitle verificationLand registry search, survey plan charting and document review through partner lawyers and surveyors.From ₦200,000 → On the groundPre-purchase inspectionA site visit with photos, video and condition notes, before you commit.From ₦250,000 → Quick lookSite visit reportWe go and see it: the property exists, where it is and what state it is in.From ₦60,000 →

Request a verification

Tell us about the property. We reply within one working day with the checks it needs and a quote.

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Help other buyers

Rate a property company, or report a fraud

Dealt with a developer, agent or property company in Nigeria? Share your experience, good or bad. We are building independent ratings of property companies so buyers can see who to trust. Submissions are private for now and checked before anything is published.

If you have lost money, also report it to the authorities. They can act; we cannot.

EFCC: efcc.gov.ngNigeria Police ForceLASRERA (Lagos)
Questions

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if land in Nigeria is genuine?

Search the title at the state land registry, have the survey plan charted to confirm it is not under government acquisition, check the title type (C of O, Governor's Consent or registered deed), visit the land, and make sure the seller's name matches the title and the account you pay into.

How do I check that a real estate company is not a scam?

Look it up on the CAC public search, check its directors, confirm its registration with LASRERA if it operates in Lagos, visit its office and a completed project, and only pay into an account in the company's registered name.

What is the most common property scam in Nigeria?

Selling the same land to more than one buyer, and selling land that is under government acquisition, are among the most reported. Fake agents collecting deposits or rent online are common too.

Can Proptiva verify a property for me while I am abroad?

Yes. Our team visits the property, and partner lawyers and surveyors run the registry and survey checks. You get photos, video and a written record of what was confirmed. Title verification starts from ₦200,000 and pre-purchase inspections from ₦250,000.

I have already paid. What should I do?

Stop further payments, keep every receipt, message and document, and get the property verified quickly. If you believe it is fraud, report it to the EFCC or the police, and tell us what happened using the report form on this page.

Will you publish my review or report?

Not yet. Reviews and reports are kept private while we build our company ratings platform. Your contact details are never published, and we only publish reviews you agree to, after checking them.

Does Proptiva give legal advice?

No. Proptiva coordinates the checks and works with qualified partner lawyers and surveyors, who give the legal and survey conclusions.

Not sure about a deal? Ask before you pay.

Tell us about the property and we will tell you what needs checking. It costs far less than losing the deposit.

Get it verified →WhatsApp us
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