Secure Payment Channels for Diaspora Real Estate Purchases: Avoid Scams During the Holiday Rush
- Zikan Realtors
- Dec 7, 2025
- 4 min read
A 2025 Guide for Nigerians in the UK, US, Canada, and Across the Diaspora
Detty December is one of the busiest real estate seasons in Nigeria.Developers are selling fast. Agents are calling back-to-back.And diaspora Nigerians are sending millions home for land, houses, and construction.
But here’s the truth:
Most real estate scams happen in December—because people are rushing.And 90% of these scams start with the wrong payment method.
This guide shows you EXACTLY how to pay safely, avoid fraud, and protect your money from shady agents, fake estates, and “urgent promo deals.”
1. Why Payment Safety Matters More in December
During the holiday rush:
Fraudsters impersonate developers
Fake account numbers are pushed on WhatsApp
“Deadline payment discounts” trap victims
Relatives send wrong bank details
Agents pressure diaspora buyers to “just pay now”
A single mistake can cost your entire investment.
Your best protection?Use ONLY secure, traceable channels.
2. Approved & Safe Payment Channels for Diaspora Nigerians (2025)
✔ 1. Direct Bank Transfer to Developer’s Corporate Account
Not personal accounts. Not agent accounts.Only pay into accounts that meet the following criteria:
Registered business name
Same name as the estate or real estate company
Same name on invoice, receipt, and contract
Confirmed through the developer’s official website
Red flag:If a staff says, “Use this other account,” reject it.
✔ 2. International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs)
CBN-approved platforms such as:
Wise
Remitly
Sendwave
Pay4Me
Flutterwave Send
MoneyGram / Western Union (business payments)
Benefits:
Full traceability
Clear records
Faster confirmation
Lower risk of fraud
✔ 3. Escrow & Trustee Accounts
Some reputable developers now use escrow payments, where your money is held securely and only released when:
Title documents are confirmed
Allocation is ready
Contract is signed
This is the safest option for off-plan and early-stage estates.
✔ 4. Dollar-Denominated Payments (Domiciliary Transfers)
Diaspora buyers can pay directly to:
USD domiciliary account
GBP domiciliary account
CAD domiciliary account
For developers that accept foreign currency.
Benefits:
Protects you from naira fluctuations
Transparent conversion rates
Reduces fraud risk
✔ 5. Online Card Payments Through Verified Payment Portals
Some major developers have secure portals with:
SSL certificates
OTP verification
Payment receipts generated automatically
Account dashboards showing transaction history
Before you use a portal, confirm:
The domain is authentic
The payment gateway is verified
There are no redirects to unknown websites
3. Payment Channels You MUST Avoid (High Fraud Risk)
❌ Cash payments to agents or “representatives”
No matter how trusted they look.
❌ Paying into personal accounts
Even if it’s “the MD’s account.”
❌ Sending money via relatives and telling them to settle the agent
This is the #1 diaspora scam source.
❌ Crypto payments
CBN has not approved property purchases via crypto.
❌ WhatsApp account numbers sent by “staff”
These are often hacked accounts.
❌ Black market FX middlemen
You lose money + lose records + lose protection.
4. How to Confirm a Developer’s Bank Details Are Real
Before paying, follow these steps:
✔ Step 1: Visit the company’s official website
Ensure the account number matches.
✔ Step 2: Call the official customer service line
Do NOT rely on WhatsApp numbers.
✔ Step 3: Request a stamped invoice on company letterhead
It must include:
Company name
RC number
Project name
Amount
Bank details
Contact number
✔ Step 4: Cross-check RC number with CAC portal
Confirms the business is REAL.
✔ Step 5: Demand a receipt immediately after payment
Not hours later. Not “when accounting resumes.”
5. How to Pay Safely During a Short Visit (Detty December Edition)
✔ Bring your international passport
Banks will require it for verification.
✔ Open a Nigerian bank account during your visit
Makes future payments easier.
✔ Request POS/in-branch confirmation of payment
So you get instant evidence.
✔ Visit the developer’s office physically
Don’t pay anyone outside company premises.
6. What to Do Immediately After Making a Payment
Take a screenshot of payment
Save email confirmation
Request a signed receipt within 15 minutes
Ask for your contract of sale
Ask for your allocation timeline
Get a designated account manager
Your documents should start moving same day.
7. Common December Scams Targeting Diaspora Buyers During the Holiday Rush
⚠ Fake estate names
Copied from real companies but with small spelling changes.
⚠ Impersonation
Someone pretending to be a staff member using WhatsApp.
⚠ Discount pressure
“Pay in 2 hours or the promo ends.”
⚠ Title claims that don’t exist
Excision, C of O, Gazette—completely fake.
⚠ Developer never issues receipts
Because money entered a personal account.
⚠ Relatives giving “their friend” the money
Then disappearing.
Final Takeaway
Diaspora buyers lose the most money not because they bought wrong land,but because they paid through the wrong channel.
If you follow the secure methods in this guide, your money—and your investment—remains protected.
🏢 Zikan Prop Solutions
🥇 Certified Real Estate Consultant | Multi Award-Winning Realtor
Helping you make the best real estate purchase & investment decisions.
📱 +234 703 000 3514
📲 IG: @zikanpropsolutions
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