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Nigeria (NG)

Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and its largest economy — a vibrant, dynamic, and entrepreneurial country of over 220 million people spanning 36 states and 250+ ethnic groups.

Capital: Abuja
Region: Africa
Language: English
Currency: NGN (₦)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 22)
Emergency: 112
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Nigeria.

Apply for Nigerian visas only through the official NIS portal (immigration.gov.ng / evisa.immigration.gov.ng) — the NIS has publicly warned against dozens of fake e-visa sites. Never release goods, cash or property based on a payment screenshot; check your bank app for actual credit first. The EFCC (efcc.gov.ng) handles financial crime including advance-fee fraud and cybercrime — report promptly as early reporting improves recovery prospects.

Advance-fee (419) fraud

critical

Named after Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, this fraud involves an unsolicited message from someone claiming to be a lawyer, official, diplomat or wealthy individual who needs your help moving funds, receiving an inheritance or winning a contract. They promise a large share of the money in return. Once trust is built, small advance fees are requested — for legal costs, taxes, bribes or administrative fees. Each payment unlocks a new obstacle. The promised windfall never materialises. In 2024 the FBI logged over 7,000 such complaints totalling more than USD 102 million in reported losses.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited contact from a stranger offering a share of a large sum in exchange for help
  • - Story involves a locked account, inheritance, contract award or government fund needing release
  • - Relationship builds quickly and the contact becomes increasingly personal before money is mentioned
  • - Small advance fees are requested for taxes, customs, legal fees or bribes to unlock the bigger payment
  • - Each payment resolves one problem but creates a new one requiring another fee
What to do: Stop all contact and payments immediately. Report to the EFCC (efcc.gov.ng, phone +234 809 332 2644) and to police in your home country. If funds have been transferred, contact your bank immediately. Preserve all email, message and bank transfer records.

Fake NIS e-visa websites

critical

Websites that closely imitate the Nigeria Immigration Service portal charge inflated fees for visa processing, steal passport and payment data, or deliver nothing. The NIS has issued specific public warnings about these fake sites. Some appear as sponsored ads above the genuine site in search results. The only official NIS e-visa portal is evisa.immigration.gov.ng.

How to spot it
  • - URL does not match evisa.immigration.gov.ng or immigration.gov.ng
  • - Site charges a "processing fee" or "service charge" on top of the official visa cost
  • - Contact available only via WhatsApp or a personal email, with no government office address
  • - Page asks for passport copy, photo and payment simultaneously without an NIS reference number
  • - Approval is guaranteed within hours — the NIS does not offer paid "fast-track" services through unofficial channels
What to do: Apply for Nigeria e-visas only at evisa.immigration.gov.ng. Contact the NIS at immigration.gov.ng or via your nearest Nigerian embassy for verification. Report fake sites to the EFCC and Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT, cert.gov.ng).

Rental deposit and property title fraud

critical

Scammers advertise properties they do not own or are not authorised to let, collecting deposits and first-month rents before disappearing. In more sophisticated variants, individuals sell properties with fake or doctored Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), governor's consent documents or survey plans. Lagos and Abuja are highest-risk areas.

How to spot it
  • - Agent or landlord cannot produce original title documents or authorisation from the registered owner
  • - No physical property viewing arranged before deposit is requested
  • - Price is significantly below comparable properties in the same estate or neighbourhood
  • - Governor's consent document does not match Land Registry records when independently checked
  • - Payment is demanded urgently in cash or personal bank transfer before a formal tenancy agreement is signed
What to do: Always view property in person. Use an independent lawyer to verify the Certificate of Occupancy, survey plan and governor's consent before any payment. Obtain a written tenancy agreement and official receipt. Report fraud to Nigeria Police Force (emergency 199) and the EFCC (efcc.gov.ng).

Fake bank payment screenshot

warning

A buyer or tenant sends a screenshot of a bank transfer or mobile payment as "proof" of payment. The screenshot is edited and no funds have actually been credited. This scam is widespread in market transactions, vehicle sales and property deals where the seller feels pressure to release goods quickly.

How to spot it
  • - The amount does not appear in your bank app or USSD balance check after several minutes
  • - Buyer or tenant is unusually insistent that you release goods, keys or services before you check your account
  • - Payment reference number in the screenshot does not match any transaction in your online banking
  • - Screenshot format or bank logo looks slightly incorrect or uses an unusual font
  • - Buyer claims the bank system is "lagging" and you will receive it "any moment"
What to do: Release goods, keys or property only after confirmed credit appears in your bank account or USSD statement — never based on a screenshot. If defrauded, report to your bank's fraud desk and Nigeria Police Force (199). Banks can sometimes reverse fraudulent transactions if reported within hours.

Romance and cyber fraud (Yahoo-Yahoo)

warning

Organised networks create fake identities on dating sites, LinkedIn and social media to build romantic or professional relationships with foreigners. After gaining trust over weeks or months, they introduce a financial emergency or an investment opportunity. Cryptocurrency schemes are increasingly used as the exit mechanism. The EFCC has intensified prosecution of these networks in 2024–2026.

How to spot it
  • - Contact avoids video calls and in-person meetings despite increasingly intense personal communication
  • - Profile photos are suspiciously polished — reverse image search may reveal stock photos or other identities
  • - A financial emergency arises — medical bills, stuck funds, business crisis — requiring an urgent transfer
  • - Investment opportunity is introduced after trust is established, with guaranteed or very high returns
  • - Requests to move communication to WhatsApp or Telegram away from the original platform
What to do: Stop payments immediately and preserve all communications. Report to the EFCC cybercrime unit (efcc.gov.ng), Nigeria Police Force and your home country's fraud reporting body. If bank transfers have been made, contact your bank immediately for a recall attempt.

Unofficial police or checkpoint shakedown

warning

At road checkpoints or during traffic stops, unofficial demands for "fines" or "processing fees" may be made by individuals in uniform. Foreigners are sometimes targeted because they are unfamiliar with official fine amounts and processes. This is distinct from legitimate police enforcement.

How to spot it
  • - No official receipt or police receipt booklet is offered for any fee
  • - Demand escalates in urgency or involves a threat to delay your journey for hours
  • - Officer cannot or will not provide their name, badge number or station affiliation
  • - Demand occurs away from an official checkpoint station, in a private location or at night
  • - Amount demanded changes based on how much cash you visibly carry
What to do: Stay calm and polite. Keep car doors locked in uncertain situations. Ask for an official fine receipt — legitimate officers will provide one. Note badge numbers and vehicle plates where safe. Report incidents to your employer's security team and, when safely away, to the Nigeria Police Force Public Complaints Bureau or EFCC.

Employment and visa job scam

warning

Fake recruitment agencies or individuals claiming to represent Nigerian or international companies offer attractive positions and then demand fees for visa processing, medicals, security clearances or relocation costs. The company often does not exist or is impersonated using a real company's name.

How to spot it
  • - Candidate is asked to pay any fee to secure a job — legitimate employers do not charge candidates
  • - Offer arrives unsolicited via email or social media without a prior application
  • - Company name and logo are used but the contact email domain does not match the company's official website
  • - Interview conducted only by WhatsApp message, never by video or phone with a verifiable contact
  • - Contract or offer letter contains spelling errors, inconsistent formatting or vague role descriptions
What to do: Verify the company through the Corporate Affairs Commission (cac.gov.ng) and contact the company's official HR email listed on their own website — not the email in the offer. Report recruitment fraud to the EFCC (efcc.gov.ng) and Nigeria Police Force.

Procurement kickback and contractor fraud

info

Expats working in procurement, aid, NGO or corporate roles may be approached by local contractors or vendors who offer to split an inflated invoice in exchange for contract award. Participation exposes the expat to criminal liability under Nigerian anti-corruption law and their employer's code of conduct.

How to spot it
  • - Vendor suggests an invoice can be inflated and the difference shared as a "commission"
  • - Suggestion made informally outside normal procurement channels
  • - Vendor claims everyone does this and it is the only way things work locally
  • - Request involves a personal rather than company bank account
What to do: Decline immediately and report to your employer's compliance or legal team. Report bribery to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC, icpc.gov.ng) or EFCC (efcc.gov.ng). Document all approaches in writing.

Reporting

Where to report: Nigeria Police Force emergency: 199. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — efcc.gov.ng, phone +234 809 332 2644, email info@efcc.gov.ng — for financial fraud, 419 scams and cybercrime. Nigeria Immigration Service — immigration.gov.ng — for visa and immigration fraud. Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) — fccpc.gov.ng — for consumer rights complaints.

Consumer helpline: Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) — fccpc.gov.ng — consumer complaint portal available online (free to submit). For banking and payment fraud: your bank's fraud desk plus Central Bank of Nigeria consumer protection at cbn.gov.ng. EFCC tipline: +234 809 332 2644 (free to call).