Rental scams often exploit a real pressure: you have found a suitable apartment and fear someone else will take it. That urgency is exactly when verification matters most. A genuine landlord or authorised agent should be able to explain the unit, arrange access and state the payment terms consistently.
Watch for a property that cannot be viewed
A copied listing may use photos from another city, an already-let unit or an estate the seller has never entered. Ask for a current viewing at the exact address. If you are remote, send someone independent and request a live walkthrough that starts outside the building. Compare the view with maps and neighbouring landmarks. Refusal to show the unit before a large “holding” payment is a reason to pause.
Verify the representative, not only the company name
Ask the agent's full name, office location, principal and written authority. The Corporate Affairs Commission public search can confirm a registered business exists, but it cannot confirm a WhatsApp contact works for that business. Call a number obtained from the business's official channel. In Lagos, real estate agency is covered by a state regulatory framework; check registration claims with the regulator where applicable.
Treat payment changes as a stop signal
Be wary of an account number that changes after you view, a demand to pay a personal account when the contract names a company, or a receipt promised “later.” Verify the beneficiary directly, preferably by a channel separate from the chat where instructions arrived. Ask what a viewing or application fee buys, whether it is refundable and who receives it. A payment request without a written reason is not a reservation agreement.
Keep a record you can act on
Save the advert URL, photos, chats, phone numbers, account details, receipts and names. If you suspect fraud, stop further transfers, contact your bank promptly and report the matter through appropriate official channels. A platform report can help remove a suspect profile, but it is not a substitute for financial or law-enforcement action.
No checklist can make a rental risk-free. It can slow the transaction enough to reveal contradictions before you commit. If an agent resists basic identity, access or cost questions, keep looking.
Sources
Official pages this guide relies on. Rules and fees change, so check the current version before you act.
- Corporate Affairs Commission public search (icrp.cac.gov.ng)
- State regulatory framework (lasrera.lagosstate.gov.ng)
Related reading: How to verify an agent · Questions to ask at a viewing.