The Complete Guide to Avoiding Real Estate Scams in Lagos

Lagos is a vibrant and rapidly expanding metropolis, making its real estate market one of the most lucrative—and dangerous—in Africa. With thousands of people moving into the city every day, the demand for housing far outstrips supply, creating the perfect breeding ground for real estate scammers.

Common Tactics Used by Fake Agents

Scammers constantly evolve their methods, but they usually rely on a few predictable tactics to exploit desperate house hunters:

• The Phantom Property: The agent shows you pictures of a beautiful, suspiciously affordable apartment. They demand a “registration” or “inspection” fee before you can view it. Once paid, the agent disappears, or the property turns out to be already occupied.
• The Multiple-Renter Scam: A scammer gains access to an empty property and “rents” it out to ten different people on the same day. By the time the victims show up to move in, the scammer is gone with millions of Naira.
• The “Developer” Rush: You are taken to an uncompleted building and told it will be finished in two weeks if you pay now. Months later, the building remains untouched, and your money is gone.

How to Protect Yourself

Protecting yourself requires vigilance and a strict refusal to bow to pressure.

1. Never Pay Before Viewing: This is the golden rule. No legitimate property transaction requires you to pay an inspection, form, or registration fee before seeing the property and verifying the agent.
2. Verify the Agent: Is the agent registered with LASRERA or ERCAAN? Do they have a traceable office address, or do they only want to meet at the property or a restaurant?
3. Demand Documentation: Before paying rent, insist on seeing the landlord’s documents or a valid power of attorney proving the agent is authorized to let the property.

The MyEasyAgent Solution

At MyEasyAgent, we built our entire platform to eradicate these scams. We believe that Accountability > Convenience.

When you use MyEasyAgent, you are guaranteed that:

• We confirm before you pay. You will never be asked for an inspection fee for a property that doesn’t exist.
• Every agent on our platform is strictly vetted, licensed, and bound by our zero-tolerance policy for fraud.
• Through our Agreement Clinic, every tenancy agreement is reviewed to ensure you aren’t signing away your rights to a phantom landlord.

Don’t let the desperation of house hunting make you a victim. Stay vigilant, and always use verified platforms.