PROPERTY TRAPS IN LAGOS – HOW TO SPOT TOP PROPERTY SCAMS IN LAGOS.

You can agree that in Lagos, the real estate hustle is real, and it is best to believe the scammers are
even realer. If you’ve ever been offered beachfront land in Ikeja or a duplex with “government-
approved papers” signed in pencil, you’re not alone.

Starting with the documentation of the property, if the paperwork of the property cannot be
provided for you to do your search, or you realize that the documentation looks funny, please run.
When spotting an original document, look out for embossed seals, signatures, and government
stamps. Avoid photocopied and scanned documents, cross-check the name on the document with a
valid government-issued ID, and most importantly, always verify the documentation with the state
land registry; if it isn’t in the registry, it is not real.

The classic scam of selling property to five different people is still being done. Do a background
check on the property outside the seller. Go to the environment, look around, and ask questions.
Some people even go as far as advertising lands in areas that have not even been acquired yet, or
even non-existent estates.

Nothing says trustworthy about desperation. When you are getting pressured to pay for a property,
99% of the time, the deal will almost always end up badly. Pay now or lose the deal? Please lose the
deal. There is a distressed sale, but there is also a scam, 600sqm for ₦500k? NO!

Always make sure that the seller has a legal team in place and a physical site to inspect, either land or a
building a verifiable office address, and professionals in charge of the transaction.