How to Avoid Rent Scams and Fake Agents as a Nigerian Student

Know the common scam patterns

Fake agents targeting students usually rely on urgency. They post a photo of a property that is not actually available, or that belongs to someone else, then push you to send money quickly before you can inspect it or compare it with other options. Some run the same room past multiple students at once and take a deposit from each of them.

Another common trick is the "inspection fee": an agent asks for a small payment before they will even show you houses, then disappears or keeps stalling once you have paid. A legitimate agent's commission is tied to a completed deal, not a fee to view a list of properties.

Never pay before you inspect

Insist on seeing the room in person before any money changes hands. Meet the landlord directly if possible, or a caretaker whose identity you can confirm with neighbors or other tenants in the building. If an agent refuses to let you meet the landlord or insists everything must be done remotely, treat that as a red flag.

Verify who you are dealing with

• Ask for proof that the person collecting rent actually owns or manages the property, such as a Certificate of Occupancy, a deed, or a signed agency agreement with the owner.

• In Lagos, check whether the agent is registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) , which licenses agents, developers and property managers and takes action against unregistered practitioners.

• Search the property address online. Duplicate listings for the same unit under different names or prices are a common warning sign.

• Ask students already living in the building about their experience with the landlord or agent before you commit.

Protect your money

Pay by bank transfer, not cash, so you have a record. Confirm the account name matches the landlord or the registered agency, not an unrelated personal account. Get a signed tenancy agreement and a receipt for every payment, including the caution fee, before you hand over money or move in.

If a deal falls through after you paid a legitimate deposit and the agent will not refund it, or you suspect fraud, you can report it to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC ), which handles consumer protection complaints, or to your state's real estate regulator where one exists.

Lean on your student network

Student unions, faculty WhatsApp groups and hostel associations near your campus usually know which agents and landlords other students have dealt with safely. Asking around before you commit costs nothing and can save you from a scam that a quick online search will not catch.

Watch for these messaging patterns

Scammers targeting students online tend to write in a similar way: they push you toward WhatsApp or a phone call instead of a verifiable platform, they refuse video calls that show more than a few seconds of the property, and they get impatient or vague when you ask specific questions about the building, the neighborhood, or how long they have managed the property. A real landlord or agent with nothing to hide will usually answer these questions directly.

If you already paid before reading this

If you sent money and now suspect a scam, contact your bank immediately to ask whether the transfer can be reversed or the account flagged, since banks sometimes act faster than a police report alone. Screenshot every conversation and payment confirmation before the agent can delete their profile or number. Report the case to the FCCPC or your local police division, and warn other students in your area or hostel group so the same person cannot repeat the scam on someone else.