How to avoid rental scams in Nigeria

A rental search can involve several people, listings and payments, which makes it important to verify each step rather than rely on one reassuring detail. Warning signs include a property that cannot be inspected, an unclear right to let it, pressure to send money to an unrelated person or a refusal to put the terms in writing. Here is a practical way to check the home, the person and the payment before committing.

Common rental scams to watch for

• The inspection-fee farm. An agent collects a small “inspection fee” from dozens of people for a property that isn't really available, then disappears.
• The fake landlord. Someone who doesn't own the property collects a deposit and vanishes before you can move in.
• The double-let. The same unit is “rented” to several people, each paying a deposit.
• Pressure and mismatched payment details. You're rushed to pay before checks are complete, or the requested recipient does not match the landlord or authorised representative.

Warning signs

• The rent is far below market for the area.
• You're asked to pay before you've seen the unit in person.
• The agent avoids putting anything in writing.
• There is no tenancy agreement, or it's a vague one-pager.
• You can't confirm who actually owns the property.

Use a three-part verification check

Do not try to solve every risk with one document. Verify the home, the person and the payment separately. For the home, inspect the exact address and unit, and ask neighbours or estate staff what they know. For the person, ask for identification and evidence that the owner has authorised them to let the property. For payment, get a written breakdown and confirm the recipient before transferring.

This approach matters because a convincing listing photo, a familiar company name or a genuine-looking identity card is not enough on its own. A scammer may reuse photos, borrow a name or pressure a renter to send money to an unrelated account. The three checks make it harder for one polished detail to hide a broken transaction.

How to verify a landlord or agent

• Ask for identification and confirm it matches the person showing you the property.
• Ask to see proof of ownership or the agent's authority to let the unit.
• Visit the property in person and speak to existing tenants or neighbours.
• Confirm the recipient's identity and authority before paying, then use an agreed traceable method and get a receipt.

How to handle pressure without losing a good home

It is reasonable for a legitimate landlord to want a timely decision. It is not reasonable to insist that you skip inspection, ignore a mismatch in names, or pay before you understand the total. You can respond calmly: say you are ready to proceed once the viewing, authority and written payment instruction are complete. A genuine counterparty can usually explain their process; a fraudster often increases the urgency.

Never share banking credentials, card PINs, passwords or verification codes. The EFCC warns that fraud commonly uses messages and lookalike sites to collect sensitive financial information. If a link, account name or instruction seems unusual, verify it through an independently found phone number or official channel rather than replying to the message.

If payment has already been sent

Save the listing, chats, call records, account details, transfer receipt, agreement draft and any inspection evidence. Contact your bank or payment provider promptly and explain the transaction clearly. Report suspected fraud to the appropriate law-enforcement authority. Do not delete a chat because it is embarrassing or because the other party promises a refund: contemporaneous records are useful to the bank and any investigator.

The safest way: rent through a verified platform

A platform badge can be one useful trust signal, but it does not replace inspecting the exact home, checking the terms and confirming who is authorised to receive money. On Property360, review the available listing and verification information, then confirm the home and payment instructions before committing. You can also read how Property360 works for tenants.

Verify the exact home, not just a convincing listing

Arrange to see the specific unit you would rent. Compare the address, entrance, floor and visible features with the listing, and ask who will meet you there. A video call or live video tour can help when an in-person visit is not immediately possible, but it does not prove that the person has authority to rent the home or that it will still be available. If you cannot inspect, ask for a clear explanation and independently verify the owner or agent before making any commitment.

During a viewing, look beyond staged photographs. Check access to water, power, ventilation, doors and windows, visible damp, taps, toilets, meters, shared spaces and the route in and out of the building. Ask which fixtures, furniture or services are included. Note defects and take dated photographs with permission. This makes it easier to tell whether the home you are offered is the same one you viewed and gives both parties a useful starting condition record.

Check the person's authority and payment instructions

Ask who owns or manages the property and what role the person showing it has. If an agent is involved, request confirmation that the owner authorised them to advertise, negotiate or receive a payment. Compare the name on the written instruction with the recipient shown by your bank or payment provider. A legitimate arrangement may use a representative or business account, so an account type alone does not prove fraud; a mismatch that nobody can explain is a reason to pause.

Independently confirm important details using a contact route you found yourself, such as a published agency office number or a direct introduction from the owner. Do not rely only on a phone number sent in the same message that asks for urgent payment. A badge, ID card, company logo or property document can be copied or misused. Treat each as one piece of evidence, not a guarantee, and avoid sending money until the property, authority, terms and recipient all make sense together.

Ask for the complete cost before you agree

Get a written breakdown of rent and every additional charge before paying: deposits, caution fee, agent or agency fee, agreement or legal fee and any recurring service charge. Ask what period the rent covers, which amounts may be refunded and who receives each fee. Compare the total with your budget and ask for a receipt for each payment. Do not accept a new unexplained charge simply because you have already spent time or transport money on the viewing.

Read the draft tenancy agreement before signing. Check that the legal names, property address, rent period, dates, fees, responsibilities and refund conditions match what was agreed. Be cautious if the person insists that a written agreement is unnecessary or will be provided only after the full payment. If a term is unclear, take time to get an explanation or professional advice. For a state-specific question, speak with a qualified local lawyer rather than relying on a generic online form.

Protect your documents and accounts while you search

A landlord may reasonably ask for information to assess an application, but you can ask why a particular document is needed, who will keep it and how long it will be retained. Share the minimum necessary through a channel you trust. Do not send a bank PIN, password, one-time passcode or full card credentials for a rental application. If you provide a copy of an identity document, consider whether an explanatory watermark is appropriate and lawful for your situation, and keep an unaltered original for official verification.

Be cautious with links that ask you to sign in or pay. Check the web address before entering information, and contact the organisation through a separately verified channel if a page looks unusual. Avoid installing an app or screen-sharing tool at an agent's request just to complete a viewing or payment. These precautions protect your financial and identity information whether or not a particular listing turns out to be genuine.

Make a payment only after the checks line up

Before transferring, pause and verify the amount, beneficiary, purpose and property reference. Use a payment channel that gives you a durable transaction reference. Keep the receipt and written instruction; do not delete them after keys are handed over. A screenshot is not the same as confirmation that funds reached the intended account, so check your own bank or provider record. If the recipient or amount changes at the last moment, confirm the change independently before sending.

After payment, ask for a receipt that states who paid, who received the money, the date, amount and what period or fee it covers. Save the signed agreement and inspection record in the same folder. If you are told that keys will be delivered later, write down the handover date and what happens if it is missed. A documented sequence gives both sides a way to check that the agreement has been carried out.

Pause when pressure replaces verification

A real home may attract other applicants, but urgency should not require you to skip basic checks. Tell the other party you are ready to proceed once you have viewed the unit, confirmed authority and received the written terms. If they refuse or threaten to give the home away for asking reasonable questions, step back. Losing a viewing is frustrating; losing a large payment to an unverified recipient can be much harder to address.

If you suspect a scam before paying, stop contact until you can verify the facts. Preserve the listing, messages and account details. If money has already been sent, contact your bank or payment provider promptly, ask whether the transaction can be traced or recalled, and report suspected fraud to the appropriate law-enforcement authority. The EFCC's online-safety guidance is a useful starting point, but it does not replace advice from your bank or the relevant authorities. Keep a dated note of every report and reference number.

Your quick safety checklist

• See the property in person before paying anything.
• Confirm who owns it and who you're paying.
• Pay traceably (card, bank transfer, USSD), never untraceable cash.
• Get a written tenancy agreement and a receipt for every payment.
• Prefer verified landlords and platforms that hold you both accountable.

This article is general guidance, not legal advice. If you suspect fraud, report it to the police and your bank immediately.