How to Avoid Travel Scams in Nigeria

Somewhere between the last Lagos motor park and the first stretch of open expressway, it occurred to me that the most useful skill for travelling around Nigeria isn’t a sense of direction. It’s a habit of pausing. Learning how to avoid travel scams in Nigeria, I discovered on my own road journey from Lagos to Makurdi, has very little to do with suspicion of the people around you and everything to do with slowing down long enough to check who you’re dealing with, what you’re paying for, and whether a request actually makes sense.

That journey, from the density and noise of Lagos, through the changing landscape of the Middle Belt, to Makurdi on the banks of the River Benue, became the spine of this guide. I didn’t set out to write a checklist. I set out to pay closer attention than I normally would, because a long domestic trip has a way of putting you in exactly the situations where scams tend to happen: unfamiliar terminals, new faces offering to “help,” money changing hands quickly, and decisions that feel like they need to be made right now.

What follows is what that attention taught me, expanded with guidance from consumer-protection bodies, law enforcement channels and official travel-advisory sources, so that any traveller (first-time visitor, returning Nigerian, expatriate, student or business traveller) can use it on their own routes.

This is not a story about danger lurking around every corner. It’s a story about preparation, and about how a few consistent habits make the difference between a smooth trip and an expensive lesson.

Note: Travel conditions and official advice can change, so always check current guidance before setting out.

What Counts as a Travel Scam?

A travel scam is any attempt to deceive a traveller into paying money, handing over personal information, or making a decision that benefits the scammer rather than the traveller, usually by creating false urgency, false authority, or a false sense of trust. That can be as small as a manipulated fare or as serious as a fake booking that empties a bank account.

Travel scams are not unique to Nigeria. Every major travel destination in the world, from tourist-heavy European capitals to popular Southeast Asian cities, deals with some version of fake tickets, unofficial guides, taxi overcharging or accommodation fraud. What matters for a traveller isn’t which country they’re in; it’s whether they know the warning signs and have a habit of verifying before they pay.

This guide focuses on the specific deceptive practices a domestic traveller in Nigeria may encounter, and on sensible precautions rather than blanket suspicion of any group, profession or city.

Why Travellers Can Become Easy Targets

Scams succeed because of the situation, not because of any particular flaw in the traveller. A few conditions make anyone, local or visitor, more vulnerable:

Unfamiliarity. Not knowing which terminal, gate, hotel entrance or payment channel is legitimate makes it harder to spot something that’s off.
Time pressure. Buses that appear to be “about to leave,” flights that are boarding, or hotel rooms that are “about to be given to someone else” all push people into fast decisions.
Fatigue. Long journeys wear down attention, which is precisely when people stop double-checking details.
Desire to be helpful or avoid conflict. Many travellers accept unsolicited assistance because refusing feels rude, not because they’ve actually assessed whether the help is needed.
Carrying visible cash or valuables. Anyone handling large amounts of physical cash at a terminal or ATM becomes a more visible target than someone who has planned their payments in advance.

This isn’t about assuming the worst of everyone you meet. It’s about building small verification habits that don’t depend on reading a stranger’s character correctly, because that’s not a skill anyone can rely on.

Before Leaving Lagos: What My Preparation Taught Me

Before the Lagos-to-Makurdi trip, most of the actual risk-reduction happened at home, not on the road. Confirming details in advance is far easier than trying to verify something under pressure at a terminal.

Confirm the transport provider directly: Rather than relying on a link forwarded by a stranger or a number scribbled down secondhand, I made sure the transport company’s booking details came from a source I could independently verify: either the operator’s own office, a verified phone line, or a platform I trusted. If you’re arranging transport for a Lagos-to-Makurdi trip or a similar cross-country route, Watch Nigeria’s Abuja to Makurdi road trip guide is a useful companion for understanding the route, common stops and what a normal journey looks like, which makes it much easier to notice when something about your own trip doesn’t add up.
Check ticket details before paying: A legitimate ticket should specify the operator’s name, the exact departure point, the date and time, and the fare. If any of those details are vague, or if a “ticket” is really just a verbal promise and a phone number, that’s worth pausing over.
Plan how you will pay: Deciding in advance to pay only through an official channel (a bank transfer to a verified company account, a card payment on a recognised platform, or cash paid directly at a manned ticket counter) removes the need to make that judgment call on the spot, under pressure, from a stranger.
Save important contacts and confirm your destination in writing: Before leaving, I saved the transport company’s official contact number, the address of where I planned to stay in Makurdi, and the contact details of someone who knew my travel plan. If you’re still deciding where to stay, Watch Nigeria’s guide to choosing hotels in Nigeria as a first-time visitor is a good starting point, and the site’s piece on booking short-lets in Lagos without getting scammed applies the same verification logic to accommodation in any Nigerian city, not just Lagos.
Keep identification and travel documents secure but accessible: A photocopy or photo of identification documents, stored separately from the originals, meant that even if something had gone wrong with the physical documents, I wasn’t starting from zero.

At the Departure Point: Verifying Before Boarding

Arriving at a motor park or terminal is where a traveller’s preparation either holds up or doesn’t. This is also where unsolicited “assistance” tends to appear: someone offering to help carry luggage, find the right vehicle, or “sort out” a ticket faster than the official queue.

Identify the correct terminal or departure point in advance: ideally from the transport company’s own information rather than from whoever approaches you first at a busy park. Large terminals often have multiple operators, and it’s easy to end up at the wrong counter if you’re relying on a passerby’s directions.
Verify the vehicle and the operator match your ticket: Before boarding, I checked that the vehicle’s branding, the driver’s identification (where available) and the departure details matched what was on my ticket. If something doesn’t match (a different company name painted on the vehicle, or a driver who can’t confirm the route and price you were quoted), it’s reasonable to ask questions before boarding, not after.
Be cautious with unsolicited intermediaries: At any busy departure point, someone offering to “help” you buy a cheaper or faster ticket, carry your bag to the “real” bus, or hold your money while you check something is a common situation travellers may encounter, not just in Nigeria, but at transport hubs worldwide. It’s not that every offer of help is dishonest; it’s that legitimate transport staff generally don’t need to intercept you before you reach the official counter. Buying directly from the counter, kiosk or verified booking platform is the safer default.
Confirm luggage arrangements before it leaves your hands: Ask how luggage is tagged, stored and retrieved at the destination, and avoid handing bags to anyone who isn’t clearly identified as staff of the transport company.

Busy Nigerian road with yellow tricycles, motorcycles, buses and pedestrians crossing near a flyover, illustrating the mix of transport travellers encounter on domestic routes. — *Motor parks and busy roadsides, like this one, are where a little verification goes a long way for travellers moving around Nigeria.*

During the Journey: Money, Strangers and Unexpected Requests

Once underway, the risks shift from “who do I buy a ticket from” to “how do I handle money and information while I’m essentially in transit and less able to verify things.”

Handle money deliberately, not reactively: I kept the bulk of my funds on a card or in a form that wasn’t easily accessible in a hurry, and carried only a modest amount of cash for the immediate journey. This is a standard precaution recommended by financial-security guidance generally: don’t carry all your funds in one visible, easily accessible place.
Be thoughtful about what you disclose to strangers: Conversations on long journeys are one of the genuine pleasures of travelling in Nigeria; people are often warm and curious. That doesn’t mean every detail needs to be shared. I was careful not to volunteer specifics like exactly how much cash I was carrying, my full accommodation address, or banking details, regardless of how friendly a conversation became. This isn’t about distrust; it’s the same discretion most experienced travellers practise anywhere in the world.
Verify unexpected requests before responding to them: If a fellow traveller, a driver, or anyone else raises an unexpected request involving money mid-journey, whether it’s a “top-up” for fuel, an additional “toll,” or a request to help with someone else’s fare, the safest response is to ask for clarity (what is this for, who is collecting it, is there a receipt) rather than to pay quickly to avoid awkwardness.
Keep valuables secured and in sight: Phones, wallets and identification are safest kept close and checked periodically, particularly during stops at roadside markets or rest points, which is where luggage-related distraction scams are more likely to occur.
Treat changes to travel arrangements as something to confirm, not just accept: If a driver announces a change of route, a different drop-off point, or an additional stop that wasn’t part of the original booking, it’s reasonable to ask why and to confirm this is a normal operational decision rather than something you’re expected to pay extra for on the spot.

Arriving in Makurdi: Staying Careful at the Finish Line

Travellers often relax the moment they arrive, which is exactly when a second wave of risk can appear, this time from people who specifically target new arrivals who look unfamiliar with the city.

Verify accommodation independently, even if you already booked it: On arrival, I confirmed the hotel’s name, address and booking reference matched what I had arranged before travelling, rather than accepting a ride from anyone who approached me claiming to represent my hotel. Watch Nigeria’s Makurdi travel guide is a useful reference for what legitimate accommodation and attractions in the city actually look like, which makes it easier to notice if something doesn’t match.
Confirm onward transport before you need it, not while you’re stranded: Whether you’re heading into Makurdi itself or onward to a nearby town, it’s worth identifying legitimate transport options in advance rather than accepting the first offer from someone waiting at the arrival point.
Be cautious with unsolicited offers from people who approach you first: A stranger who immediately offers to be your guide, driver or “fixer” the moment you step off a bus is a common situation in unfamiliar cities everywhere, not a reflection of Makurdi or of Nigerian hospitality generally. If you want a guide or a driver, it’s safer to arrange one through your hotel, a known contact, or a verified service, and to confirm the price before accepting.
Confirm prices before accepting any service: Whether it’s a short taxi ride, a porter carrying luggage, or a quick errand, agreeing on the price beforehand, and asking for it to be repeated back clearly, avoids the common dispute where a price “changes” after the service has already been provided.
Ask trusted sources for directions and recommendations: Hotel staff, your accommodation host, or resources like Watch Nigeria’s guide to visiting the Tor Tiv Palace in nearby Gboko are more reliable starting points for exploring Benue State than directions from an unfamiliar person who approaches you unprompted.

By the time I reached Makurdi, the pattern was clear: nearly every close call I’d avoided came down to the same small discipline: pausing to verify instead of reacting to pressure. That discipline is really the entire subject of this guide, and it applies far beyond one route.

Common Travel Scams in Nigeria: A Practical Breakdown

The sections below cover the deceptive practices a traveller in Nigeria may encounter, drawn from common patterns reported by travellers and covered by consumer-protection and law-enforcement bodies. Not every risk listed here was personally encountered on the Lagos-to-Makurdi journey; where that’s the case, it’s presented as a general precaution rather than a personal account.

Fake or Unofficial Transport Agents

What it looks like: Someone approaches you at or near a terminal claiming to represent a transport company, offering tickets, “discounts,” or a supposedly faster boarding process.
Where it happens: Busy motor parks, bus terminals, and sometimes even near airports, where crowds make it easy for an unofficial agent to blend in with legitimate staff.
How the approach happens: Often through friendliness and urgency combined: an offer to help you avoid a queue, followed by a request for immediate payment.
Why travellers fall for it: Fatigue, unfamiliarity with the terminal layout, and the desire to secure a seat quickly all make a confident-sounding stranger seem like a shortcut rather than a risk.
Warning signs: Payment requested before you reach an official counter; reluctance to let you see the actual vehicle or confirm the company name; pressure to decide within seconds.
What to do instead: Buy tickets only at the official counter, from the operator’s verified booking platform, or from staff wearing identifiable company uniforms or badges. Confirm the operator’s name matches the vehicle and the printed or digital ticket.
If you’ve already paid a stranger: Stop further payment immediately, ask for a receipt or transaction reference, and report the incident to terminal management or security if available, and to the police if the amount is significant.
Where to get help: The Nigeria Police Force accepts crime reports, including fraud, through its online reporting portal.

Uniformed drivers standing beside a row of official Toyota Coaster buses at a transport depot in Nigeria. — *Buying from a verified operator with identifiable staff and branded vehicles is one of the simplest ways to avoid travel scams in Nigeria.*

Fake Tickets and Booking Confirmations

What it looks like: A ticket or booking confirmation that looks legitimate but was never actually logged with the transport company: sometimes an altered receipt, sometimes a message impersonating an operator’s official channel.
Where and when: Typically arranged in advance through informal channels: a forwarded link, a social-media message, or a “travel agent” contact who isn’t affiliated with any verifiable company.
How the approach happens: Scammers often impersonate real, recognisable operators, using similar names, logos or phone number formats to appear legitimate.
Why travellers fall for it: A confirmation that looks professionally formatted is often taken at face value, especially when the traveller is booking remotely and can’t physically inspect anything.
Warning signs: A price noticeably lower than other verified options; a request to pay into a personal bank account rather than a corporate one; inconsistent spelling of the company name across messages.
What to do instead: Book directly through the operator’s official website, verified phone lines, or a booking platform with a track record. Before travelling, call the company directly using a number you sourced independently (not the number provided by the person selling you the ticket) to confirm the booking exists.
If you’ve already paid for a fake booking: Contact your bank immediately to ask about reversing the transaction, keep every message and receipt, and contact the legitimate company being impersonated so they’re aware and can warn other customers.

Airport Pickup and “Greeter” Scams

What it looks like: Someone at an airport arrivals area, or a message shortly before arrival, claims to be your driver, hotel representative, or airport pickup contact: sometimes holding a sign with a name close to yours, or claiming your actual driver “couldn’t make it” and they’ve been sent instead.
Why travellers fall for it: After a long flight, arriving travellers are tired, disoriented, and eager to get moving, which makes a confident greeting easy to accept without question.
Warning signs: The person can’t state the driver or hotel’s name correctly; they don’t know booking details you’d expect a legitimate contact to have; they push you to leave the arrivals area quickly, away from official staff.
What to do instead: Confirm identity by asking for details only the real contact would know: your booking reference, the exact hotel name, or a code word arranged in advance. If in doubt, call your hotel or driver directly using a number you already have, rather than trusting the person in front of you.
If something feels wrong after accepting a pickup: Ask to be dropped at a public, well-lit location such as your hotel’s entrance rather than continuing to an unfamiliar destination, and contact your accommodation or a trusted contact to confirm your location.

This risk shouldn’t be exaggerated. Most airport pickups in Nigeria, as elsewhere, are entirely routine. A short verification step simply removes the uncertainty.

Taxi and Ride-Hailing Scams

What it looks like: Fare manipulation, unnecessarily long routes, drivers who claim the app-calculated price is “not correct” once you’re already in the vehicle, or requests to cancel an app booking and pay privately instead.
Where it happens: Anywhere ride-hailing and traditional taxis operate side by side, including terminals, airports and busy commercial districts.
Why travellers fall for it: Once you’re already in the vehicle, there’s a strong pull toward avoiding conflict and just paying whatever is asked rather than disputing it mid-journey.
Warning signs: A driver pressuring you to cancel the app booking; an unsolicited taxi offer from someone who approaches you before you’ve requested a ride; a route that clearly diverges from the app’s suggested path without explanation.
What to do instead: Keep the ride-hailing app open and visible for the duration of the trip, decline requests to cancel and pay privately, and politely but firmly hold to the agreed or app-quoted fare. For traditional taxis, agree on a price before the journey begins, ideally with a driver or vehicle recommended by your hotel or a trusted local contact.
If a dispute happens: It’s generally safer to pay the originally agreed amount and report the driver through the app’s support channel afterward than to argue extensively in the vehicle.

Fake Travel Guides or Unofficial Tour Guides

What it looks like: Someone offers guiding services at a tourist site or destination without any verifiable affiliation to a recognised tour operator, lodge, or the site’s management.
Why travellers fall for it: Guides who approach confidently and seem knowledgeable are easy to trust, especially at sites without clear official signage or staff.
Warning signs: Reluctance to state a company name or show identification; pressure to pay the full fee upfront before any service is provided; discouraging you from asking site staff to confirm who they are.
What to do instead: Arrange guides through your hotel, a recognised tour operator, or the destination’s own management where possible. Ask site staff to confirm whether a guide is officially affiliated before agreeing to pay.
If you’ve already paid: If the guide doesn’t deliver what was agreed, request a partial refund where reasonable, and report the individual to site management so future visitors are informed.

Accommodation Scams

What it looks like: Fake accommodation listings, hotel websites impersonating real properties, requests for a deposit sent to an unverified personal account, or a property that doesn’t match its advertised description once you arrive.
Where it happens: Most often online: social media posts, messaging apps, or search results leading to lookalike booking pages rather than a hotel’s genuine website.
Why travellers fall for it: Attractive photos and a lower-than-average price are persuasive, particularly for travellers booking from outside the city or country who can’t inspect the property in person.
Warning signs: A request to pay the full amount via bank transfer to a personal account before check-in; no verifiable address or phone number; reviews that seem generic or absent altogether; prices dramatically below comparable listings.
What to do instead: Book through the hotel’s official website or a recognised booking platform, call the property directly to confirm the reservation exists, and where possible pay by card rather than direct transfer, since cards typically offer more dispute options. Watch Nigeria’s guides on choosing hotels as a first-time visitor and on avoiding short-let scams in Lagos both walk through this verification process in more detail.
If you’ve already paid for a fake listing: Contact your bank or card provider immediately to ask about a chargeback, screenshot every listing detail and message before it can be deleted, and report the listing to the platform it appeared on.

Row of blue single-story hotel rooms with white trim and arched doorways under palm trees in Nigeria. — *Verifying that a hotel’s real exterior, entrance and room layout match what was advertised is one of the simplest ways to avoid accommodation scams in Nigeria.*

Fake Officials and Impersonation

What it looks like: Someone unexpectedly claims to be a police officer, immigration official, airport official, transport authority representative, or other figure of authority, often in a context where the claim is difficult to verify immediately.
Why travellers fall for it: Authority is generally not something people are inclined to question, especially travellers unfamiliar with what legitimate officials in a given context typically look like or carry.
Warning signs: No visible identification, or identification that looks inconsistent; requests for immediate cash payment rather than a formal, documented process; unwillingness to go to an official office or station to resolve the matter.
What to do instead: Ask politely to see identification, and where reasonable, ask to have the matter handled at an official office rather than on the street. Genuine officials in a legitimate process are generally not put off by a calm, respectful request for verification. Avoid confrontation: the goal is to slow the process down and involve a formal setting, not to challenge anyone directly.
Where to get help: If you believe you’ve encountered someone falsely claiming official authority, this can be reported through the Nigeria Police Force’s crime reporting portal.

ATM and Payment Scams

What it looks like: Unsolicited “assistance” from a stranger near an ATM, shoulder-surfing to observe a PIN, or a card that’s tampered with to capture information.
Why travellers fall for it: A friendly offer to help when a machine seems slow or confusing is easy to accept, particularly for travellers unfamiliar with a specific bank’s ATM interface.
Warning signs: Anyone standing unusually close while you enter your PIN; a machine that looks altered around the card slot; a “helper” who asks to hold your card or insists on entering details for you.
What to do instead: Cover the keypad when entering your PIN, decline unsolicited help at ATMs, use machines located inside banking halls or well-lit, monitored areas where possible, and check your transaction amount and balance before leaving the machine. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s consumer-protection guidance places security obligations on banks and ATM operators, and complaints can be lodged first with your bank, then escalated to the CBN’s Consumer Protection Department if unresolved.
If your card appears compromised: Contact your bank immediately to block the card, monitor your account for unauthorised transactions, and file a formal complaint with the bank to obtain a reference number. This documentation is important if the matter needs to be escalated.

Woman using an ATM machine, seen from behind, illustrating the need for caution and privacy when withdrawing cash in Nigeria. — *Shielding your PIN and staying alert at the ATM are simple habits that go a long way in avoiding payment scams.*

Currency Exchange Scams

What it looks like: Exchanging money through unofficial or unverified channels that offer favourable-looking rates but shortchange the amount handed over, use manipulated counting techniques, or provide counterfeit notes.
Why travellers fall for it: A rate that appears better than a bank or official bureau is genuinely tempting, especially for travellers trying to stretch a budget.
Warning signs: Reluctance to count money in front of you; rushed handovers; refusal to provide any form of receipt or transaction record.
What to do instead: Use licensed bureaux de change or bank channels, count received cash carefully before leaving the counter, and ask for a receipt. Avoid speculating on what a “fair” exchange rate should be. Rates change frequently, so it’s better to compare a couple of legitimate sources on the day than to rely on a figure you saw weeks earlier.

“Emergency” Money Requests

What it looks like: An unexpected request for money tied to a supposed transport breakdown, medical emergency, lost wallet, or a stranded traveller: sometimes from someone posing as a friend, relative, or fellow traveller in distress.
Why travellers fall for it: These requests are specifically designed to trigger a fast, emotional response, which short-circuits the normal instinct to verify first.
Warning signs: Urgency combined with a request to send money through an unfamiliar or personal payment channel; inconsistent details when questioned further; pressure not to “waste time” checking with anyone else.
What to do instead: Verify the claim independently before sending anything: call the person directly using a known number, contact a mutual acquaintance, or ask a question only the real person would be able to answer. Genuine emergencies can withstand a brief, calm verification call.

Online Travel Scams

What it looks like: Fake travel agencies, counterfeit accommodation or tour-booking websites, social-media posts advertising unrealistically cheap packages, and fraudulent payment links sent through email or messaging apps.
Why travellers fall for it: Online scams often mimic the branding of real, trusted companies closely enough that a quick glance doesn’t reveal anything wrong.
Warning signs: A web address that’s slightly different from the real company’s official domain; payment requests made outside the platform’s normal checkout process; social-media accounts with few followers or inconsistent posting history despite claiming to be an established agency.
What to do instead: Verify a travel company independently before paying: check its official website directly (typed into the browser rather than clicked from a message), look for consistent contact information, and where possible pay through a platform that offers buyer protection rather than a direct transfer to an individual’s account.

What it looks like: Attempts to gain access to your phone, SIM card, passwords, one-time passcodes (OTPs), banking apps, or email accounts: sometimes through a fake customer-service call, sometimes through a message asking you to “verify” your line.
Why travellers fall for it: Messages claiming to be from a network provider or bank often look official, and the request for an OTP is framed as a routine security step rather than the actual handover of access.
Warning signs: Any unsolicited request for an OTP, PIN, or password. Legitimate banks and network providers do not need you to read these codes aloud or type them into a message. Pressure to act “immediately or your line will be suspended.”
What to do instead: Never share OTPs, PINs or passwords with anyone, regardless of how official the request sounds. If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from your bank or network provider, contact the company directly through a verified number rather than replying to the message.

Unofficial “Fees”

What it looks like: Pressure to pay an unexpected charge, sometimes framed as a “toll,” “processing fee,” “porter fee,” or similar, without clear explanation of what it covers.
Why travellers fall for it: Small, plausible-sounding fees are easy to pay just to avoid a disagreement or delay, especially when a traveller is unfamiliar with which charges are genuinely standard.
What to ask: What is this fee for? Who is collecting it? Is there an official receipt? Can the charge be independently verified with a supervisor, office, or published fee schedule?
Important distinction: This isn’t a suggestion to refuse legitimate government charges, official tolls, or standard service fees. Many of these are entirely normal and should be paid. The goal is simply to ask enough questions that you can tell the difference between a standard charge and an invented one.

Roadside and Bus-Stop Scams

What it looks like: Inflated prices for food, drinks or goods sold specifically to travellers who look unfamiliar with the area; misleading directions given confidently by someone who may not actually know the area well; unsolicited “help” with luggage that turns into pressure for a large tip.
What to do instead: Ask multiple people for directions if you’re uncertain, rather than relying on a single confident-sounding answer. For roadside purchases, observe what other customers are paying, or simply ask the price before committing to a purchase. Keep a firm but polite grip on your own luggage unless you’ve specifically asked for help.

Busy Lagos street with a yellow danfo bus, keke napep and cars in traffic outside the Adewale Cole Plaza, illustrating the transport hubs where travel scams in Nigeria are most common. — *A typical Lagos motor park scene, danfo buses, keke napep and cars competing for space, the kind of busy transport hub where a traveller needs to stay alert.*

“Too Good to Be True” Travel Deals

What it looks like: Hotel rates, flights, bus tickets, tours, or car-hire prices that are dramatically cheaper than every comparable option.
Why travellers fall for it: Budget-conscious travellers are, reasonably, drawn to the best available price. Scammers rely on this instinct to bypass normal caution.
What to do instead: Treat unusually low prices as a signal to verify more carefully, not less. Compare the offer against at least two other legitimate sources, check whether the company or platform has verifiable contact information and a track record, and be especially cautious of deals that require full payment upfront through an unverified channel.

The STOP-VERIFY-PAY-PROCEED Framework

Rather than trying to memorise every possible scam, it’s more useful to have one simple habit that applies to almost all of them. Here’s a framework simple enough to remember even when you’re tired, at a busy terminal, or under pressure to decide quickly.

STOP: The moment you feel rushed, whether it’s “pay now or you’ll miss the bus” or “this offer is only available right now,” treat that pressure itself as a warning sign. Legitimate transactions rarely require an instant decision. Give yourself permission to pause, even for thirty seconds.
VERIFY: Check the person, company, booking, price or request independently. Call a number you sourced yourself, not one given to you by the person asking for money. Compare the offer to what you already know is normal. Ask a direct question and see how the person responds.
PAY: Only pay through a channel you can trace and, ideally, dispute if something goes wrong: an official counter, a verified corporate account, or a card payment on a recognised platform. Avoid last-minute transfers to personal accounts you can’t independently confirm.
PROCEED: Continue only once the details actually check out. If something still feels unresolved after verifying, it’s reasonable to walk away, even if it means missing an opportunity. A missed bargain is a far smaller cost than a scam.

This framework works because it doesn’t ask you to judge anyone’s character. It just asks you to slow down and confirm, which is something any traveller can do consistently, regardless of how convincing a scam might be.

15 Red Flags That Should Make You Stop and Verify

Being told you must pay immediately or you’ll miss a bus, flight, or opportunity.
Unexplained urgency attached to any request for money.
Refusal to provide a receipt or written confirmation of payment.
Prices that change at the last minute, especially after a service has already started.
Someone insisting they’re the only person who can help you right now.
A request to move payment to an unrelated personal account rather than an official one.
Links sent through messages that lead to unfamiliar or slightly altered web addresses.
Any request for your OTP, PIN, or full password.
Pressure to cancel a legitimate booking in favour of a new, unverified arrangement.
Refusal to let you independently verify information, whether by phone call, official website, or in-person confirmation.
An offer that’s dramatically cheaper than every comparable option you’ve seen.
Inconsistent names, spellings, or contact details across a company’s messages and documents.
A stranger claiming to represent your hotel, driver, or tour operator without being able to confirm booking details you already have.
Being discouraged from asking staff, security, or officials to confirm someone’s identity.
A request to hand over your phone, card, or documents “just for a moment” to someone who isn’t clearly identified staff.

What to Do If You Think You Have Been Scammed

If you suspect you’ve already lost money or shared sensitive information, acting quickly and methodically matters more than acting perfectly.

Stop any further payment immediately. Don’t send additional money to “fix” the situation, even if asked to.
Preserve every receipt, message and transaction record. Screenshots, bank alerts and reference numbers are all useful evidence.
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately if financial information or a card was involved, to block the card or flag the transaction.
Contact the legitimate company being impersonated, if applicable, so they’re aware and can warn other customers.
Report suspected criminal activity to the appropriate authorities. The Nigeria Police Force accepts reports through its online crime-reporting portal, and cybercrime-specific incidents, including online fraud and phishing, can be reported through the National Cybercrime Centre’s e-reporting portal.
Secure any compromised accounts, particularly email, banking apps, or social media if login details may have been exposed.
Change passwords on any account where you’re unsure whether information was compromised.
Inform trusted travel companions or contacts so they’re aware of the situation, especially if you’re travelling alone.
Avoid confronting suspected scammers directly or placing yourself in a risky situation to recover money or possessions. Your safety takes priority over the loss.
Seek professional or official assistance where necessary, including your bank’s fraud department, the CBN’s Consumer Protection Department for unresolved banking disputes, or your country’s embassy if you’re a foreign visitor.

It’s worth being honest here: reporting a scam is the right thing to do, and it can help stop the same scheme from affecting other travellers, but it doesn’t guarantee that lost money will be recovered. Speed matters. The sooner a bank or authority is alerted, the better the chance of any resolution.

A Note on General Travel Safety in Nigeria

Scam-avoidance is only one part of travelling safely in Nigeria, and it’s worth situating within the bigger picture. Both the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the US Department of State currently advise travellers to check regularly updated, region-specific guidance before planning routes within Nigeria, since conditions vary significantly between states and can change.

The FCDO’s advice is available on GOV.UK, and the US advisory is published on the State Department’s travel site. Neither of these sources is scam-specific, but they’re worth reviewing alongside this guide, particularly for travellers planning routes that pass through less-visited states.

This isn’t meant to discourage travel. Millions of journeys happen safely across Nigeria every year, including the Lagos-to-Makurdi route this guide is built around. The point of checking official advice is the same point as everything else in this article: informed travellers make better decisions than travellers who are simply hoping for the best.

Final Thoughts: Preparation, Not Fear

If there’s one thing the Lagos-to-Makurdi journey confirmed for me, it’s that learning how to avoid travel scams in Nigeria isn’t about becoming suspicious of the country or its people. It’s about a few consistent habits: verifying before paying, questioning urgency, keeping money and documents secure, and using official channels wherever they exist. Those habits work regardless of where you’re travelling.

Nigeria travel scams, like tourist scams anywhere else in the world, rely on speed and pressure. Slow down, verify, and most of them lose their power entirely. That, more than any single warning sign, is the real lesson from the road between Lagos and Makurdi, and it’s one that travels well wherever your own route takes you next.

Sources and Further Reading

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Nigeria travel advice (GOV.UK)
US Department of State: Nigeria Travel Advisory
Nigeria Police Force: Report a crime
Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre: E-reporting portal
Central Bank of Nigeria: Consumer Protection Department FAQs

This article reflects general travel-safety information current as of publication. Official advice, regulations and contact details can change. Always verify with the relevant authority before relying on this information for travel decisions.