HOW TO BUY LAND WITHOUT BEING SCAMMED

"I paid for this land and I went to inspect the land but I was chased away as they said the land belongs to someone else."
"I paid the sum of N5million cash to this man for a land at Ogba, I can't seem to find him again"
"I bought a plot of land from someone and I just found out it is government owned. My God what am I going to do?"

These are common scenarios of land purchase scam however all these can be avoided.

HOW TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED WHEN BUYING A LAND

1. Ensure the land has a survey plan
The biggest proof that a land belongs to a seller is the survey plan. Before you buy the land, make sure you see the survey plan. This document tells you that the government is aware of the land in question.
When you see the survey plan, check the name on it if it is the same as the name of the seller. If the name is different, the seller doesn’t have the right to sell the land to you.
You should also check the coordinates on the survey plan to be sure that they are the same as the coordinates on the beacon on the land you’re planning to buy.
In a situation where the seller cannot show you the survey plan, what this translates into is that the land has probably never been surveyed or it could also mean that the land belongs to someone else.
If the seller keeps making excuses to show you the survey plan, it’s not a good sign. Run before it is too late.

2. Make Enquiries About Any Properties You Want To Acquire 
It is ideal that you conduct a thorough research on the property you want to acquire. You should conduct a search at the Ministry of Lands and Survey for a property that has a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) as this will help you know the true owner of the land and in the long run thereby avoiding a scam. For rural communities you may need to conduct a search by meeting with the ruler of the community who know the families, their lands and boundaries if the land is a virgin land that is located in the rural area.
You can further conduct your search by asking some elderly people in the community about the owner(s) of a particular land.

3. Always ensure your payment can be traced, don't pay in cash. 
Making payment by mobile transfer or through the mobile banking app may be ok for other transactions but not for land purchase. It is best to make payment in a bank with your teller as evidence.
After payment is made also make sure to collect a receipt which will indicate 'payment for land' boldly written on it.

4. Never Make Payment For a Land You Have Not Inspected 
An inspection lets you how much value you are deriving from the land. It is wise for you to inspect the land before you make payment. If you happen to be based overseas you could send someone whose sense of judgement you can trust to help you decide if the property should be acquired.


5. Buy From A Registered Real Estate Consultant
The best way to avoid land scam is to work with a real estate consultant. A REGISTERED real estate consultant would make sure you get the best value for your money and also advice you from their wealth of experience.

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