How to Buy and Sell Safely Online in Nigeria

Five checks before an online purchase or sale

1. Verify who you are dealing with

   Check the buyer or seller in more than one place. Match their name, contact details and business history. A badge, follower count or screenshot is not enough on its own.

2. Write down the full purchase or sale

   Record the item or service, condition, amount, price, delivery date and return terms. Clear terms help both sides remember what they agreed.

3. Keep evidence from start to finish

   Save the listing, chats, receipt, delivery details, photos and videos until the purchase or sale is complete.

4. Do not let urgency replace checks

   Pause when someone rushes you, changes key details without a good reason or refuses to prove who they are.

5. Use one clear process for both sides

   Buyers want the right item or service. Sellers want serious customers. One shared record helps both sides see what was agreed and what comes next.

Online buyer safety checklist

• Confirm exactly what you will receive and when.
• Ask for written delivery, checking and return terms.
• Never share your password, PIN or one-time password.
• Keep the listing, chat, receipt and delivery evidence.

Online seller safety checklist

• Check the buyer's name and agreed delivery details.
• Record the item's condition before sending it.
• Use written steps for custom products and services.
• Do not accept a screenshot alone as proof of payment.
• Keep dispatch, delivery and buyer-confirmation records.

What to do when an online transaction goes wrong

Stop the transaction and save every record. Contact your bank at once if money has already been sent. For complaints about a purchase or seller, use the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.