In an effort to tackle

related real estate fraud, Nigeria’s online real estate platform, Lamudi.com has compiled a guide to help their users avoid falling victim to scam.

They noted that “while new technologies have made it easier than ever before, for property seekers to get all the information they need to supercharge their house hunt, the Internet has also made it easier for online fraudsters to target both buyers and renters.

But by being aware of a few tell-tale signs, house-hunters can learn to quickly sort the scammers from the legitimate real estate agents.”

To protect themselves, they say users should take the following steps. *Avoid paying inspection fees. Never agree to make any payments upfront or sign a contract without first inspecting the property no matter how official the documentation looks. Viewing the property and meeting the agent in person are the best ways to guarantee that the listing is legitimate.

*Verify the identity of the person you are dealing with. Take steps to check the agent you are dealing with is a licensed broker or agent. In the first instance, a simple online search can help you detect a scam. Try searching for the property’s address, the name of the agent and their email address. *Avoid listings that have been posted multiple times.

One common scam is for fraudsters to copy an existing (and legitimate) listing of a property for sale and repost it as a rental, with their own contact details attached. Look out for duplicate listings which have different asking prices. Never give away your personal information or documents. You should never be asked to provide your bank account details or personal identification documents to someone over the internet. Importantly, never provide your credit card verification

*Remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is One of the most important rules in real estate is that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Be sceptical about any online listings for attractive properties which are very well priced for the area. Scammers often use these very low prices to lure property seekers.*If you detect a scam, get in touch.

Focus your search on properties listed by well-known real estate agencies and trusted classifieds websites. Once you have detected a possible scam on a real estate search website, notify the platform immediately.