Safety tips
Most rental and property scams follow the same patterns. A few simple habits can protect your money. Please read this before you pay for any property, on Mr. Rent or anywhere else.
The golden rule
Never pay for a property you have not seen, from a person you have not verified, with documents you have not checked.
Before you contact anyone
- Be careful with prices far below the area average. If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
- Check that the photos, description and location match. Scammers often reuse photos from other listings.
- Prefer listings with a verification badge, and still do your own checks.
- Use the contact details shown on Mr. Rent. Do not move to unknown numbers or accounts on someone's say-so.
Inspecting the property
- Always see the property in person before paying anything. Never rent or buy from photos alone.
- Go in daylight and take a trusted friend or family member along.
- Meet the person who actually has the right to rent or sell it. Ask for a valid ID.
- Ask neighbours or nearby shops about the property and the landlord.
- Be wary of anyone who rushes you or says many other people are about to pay.
Checking documents
- Ask the landlord or seller to prove ownership or authority to let or sell the property.
- For purchases, ask to see title documents such as the Certificate of Occupancy, Deed of Assignment, survey plan and any government consent that applies.
- Check that names, plot details and addresses match across documents, and that the person you are dealing with matches the paper.
- For land and property purchases, have an independent lawyer and surveyor verify everything before you pay.
- Get any tenancy agreement or sale agreement in writing and read it fully before signing.
Paying safely
- Pay only after you have inspected the property and checked the documents.
- Pay by bank transfer to an account bearing the landlord's or company's verified name, and keep every receipt and transfer record.
- Be cautious about "inspection fees", "commitment fees" or "agent fees" demanded before you have seen the property.
- Do not send cash to someone you have not met, and do not pay through a third party you do not know.
- Mr. Rent platform fees, such as the contact reveal fee, are paid only inside the app through Paystack.
Short-let and holiday stays
- Confirm the host and the address before you pay, and keep all messages and booking details.
- Check reviews and the exact check-in terms, deposits and house rules.
- Be suspicious of hosts who push you to pay outside the platform or want the full amount very early.
Protect your account
- Mr. Rent will never ask for your password, card PIN, OTP or full card details in chat, calls or messages.
- Use a strong password and sign out on shared or public devices.
- Do not click links from strangers claiming to be Mr. Rent. Our official site is rent.fasteraim.com.
If you think you have been scammed
- Stop all further payments and keep screenshots, receipts and call records.
- Contact your bank immediately and ask whether the transfer can be flagged.
- Report to the nearest police station or the EFCC.
- Tell us at info@fasteraim.com or use the report form so we can review the listing.