How to Avoid Scams as an Online Seller or Buyer in Africa

To avoid online scams Africa wide, slow down, verify every payment yourself, deal only through channels you can trace, and treat pressure, urgency and requests for upfront fees as warning signs. Online trade has opened great opportunities for small sellers and buyers, but it also attracts fraudsters who copy trusted names, send fake payment alerts, overpay and ask for refunds or demand fees for goods that never arrive. This guide describes the most common scam patterns, gives checklists for sellers and buyers, explains safe online payments and tells you what to do and whom to contact if you are targeted. It is general safety information, not legal advice. Scam methods change quickly, so keep learning.

Why scams work

Most scams depend on emotion rather than technology. Fraudsters create urgency ("I am travelling, send the goods now"), offer a deal that seems too good, pretend to be someone you trust or exploit a moment when you are busy. They also rely on small details people overlook, such as a slightly different phone number, a misspelled name or a payment alert that looks real. Knowing the pattern is your strongest defence.

Common scam patterns that target sellers

Fake payment alerts

The buyer sends a screenshot, a forwarded SMS or a fake transfer receipt, then asks you to release the goods. Sometimes the alert looks like it came from your bank. The money never reached your account. Always open your own banking app or check your account balance directly. Never rely on a screenshot, an email or a message that someone else forwarded.

Overpayment and refund trick

The buyer "accidentally" pays more than the price, or pays with a method that can later be reversed, then asks you to refund the difference quickly. After you send real money, the original payment disappears or is reversed. Do not refund until the funds are fully and finally yours, and be careful with anyone who creates pressure to refund.

Fake buyers

These buyers may refuse to talk on the phone, insist on using a courier they choose, ask you to send goods to a third party, or want you to deal outside the platform. Some ask for your bank login or one-time codes "to complete payment". Never share passwords, PINs or one-time codes with anyone. Legitimate buyers do not need them to pay you.

Fake riders and couriers

Someone arrives to collect a parcel claiming to be sent by your buyer. Hand over goods only to the rider or courier you booked or the one the platform names, and confirm identity with a call to the number you already have.

Fake bulk or foreign orders

Advance fee scams are among the most common.

A buyer offers a very large order, often from abroad, then asks you to pay a clearing fee, a licence or a "freight deposit" before the money arrives. This is a classic advance fee scam: you pay a fee to unlock a payment that never comes. A real buyer does not need you to pay them first.

Common scam patterns that target buyers

Too-good-to-be-true prices. Brand-new items at a fraction of normal market price, with a story to explain it. Compare with the price guide and other sellers.
Fake shops and cloned pages. Social pages that copy a real shop's photos, then ask for payment into a personal account.
Pressure to pay outside a protected route. "Pay me directly, it is cheaper" or "the platform is slow" are common lines.
Deposit scams. A seller asks for a large deposit for an item they do not have, then goes silent.
Fake or substandard goods. Counterfeit electronics, parts or phones sold as original. Learn how to check, for example in our article on how to spot original phones from fakes in Nigeria.
Impersonation. Scammers pose as a bank, a delivery company, a friend or a platform's support staff, and ask for codes or payments.

Prevention checklist for sellers

Verify every payment in your own account before you release goods.
Do not accept cheques or reversible payments from unknown buyers without confirming they have cleared.
Do not refund overpayments until you are certain the original funds are settled.
Never share passwords, PINs, card details or one-time codes.
Be cautious with orders that insist on third-party couriers, unusual addresses or rushed shipping.
Keep communication and records: chats, receipts, photos of packed parcels, proof of delivery.
For large or first-time B2B buyers, verify their business and identity. See our guide on how to verify African buyers and avoid scams.
Do not pay fees to receive money. If a buyer says you must pay a fee first, stop and walk away.
Use secure passwords and enable two-step verification on your email, bank and social accounts.

Prevention checklist for buyers

Check the seller's profile, history, reviews and contact details. Search the business name and phone number for complaints.
Ask for clear photos or a short video of the actual item with today's date, and ask questions that only a real seller could answer.
Compare prices. If it is far below the market, ask why.
Pay to an account whose name matches the business or person you are dealing with, and do not accept last-minute changes of account details without checking through another channel.
Prefer payment routes that give you some record or protection, and avoid sending cash to strangers.
For high-value items, consider meeting in a safe public place, or use a trusted delivery arrangement with inspection where it is allowed.
Be wary of anyone who rushes you or says the offer ends in minutes.
Learn about the platform's rules. On Comilmart, read the buyer protection and seller policy pages directly to understand how they work.

Safe online payments: simple principles

Pay and receive through traceable methods, and keep proof.
Match the account name to the business name or person.
Confirm any change of bank details by calling a number you already trust.
Keep business and personal accounts separate. A registered business is easier for banks and buyers to check; see how to register a business in Nigeria.
Use only official apps and sites for banking. Type the address yourself, do not click links in unexpected messages.
Be careful on public Wi-Fi when you handle money.

Cash on delivery and delivery risks

Cash on delivery can reduce some risks for buyers but brings others for sellers, such as refusals and no-shows. Understand the trade-offs before you use it: see our article on delivery and logistics for small online sellers in Nigeria and the COD policy page. Always confirm who you are handing the parcel to, and keep proof of delivery.

Warning signs: a quick red flag list

Pressure to act immediately or in secret.
Requests for upfront fees, deposits or gift cards before a deal.
Refusal to talk by phone or video, or constantly changing details.
Strange email addresses, new accounts with no history or poor spelling that copies a known brand.
Requests for codes, passwords or remote access to your phone.
Offers to pay more than the price.
Insistence on taking the deal off the platform.

If three or more apply, stop the conversation.

What to do if you are scammed or suspect a scam

Stop contact and do not send more money. Scammers often ask for "one last fee".
Secure your accounts. Change passwords, enable two-step verification and warn your bank if you shared banking details.
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately. Fast action sometimes helps, although recovery is never certain.
Save evidence. Keep screenshots, phone numbers, account details, receipts and chat logs.
Report it. Tell the platform where the contact happened. For Comilmart, see the scam alert page and the help center. Also consider reporting to the police or the relevant national cybercrime or consumer authority in your country. Check official websites for current reporting channels.
Warn people you know without making unproven public accusations; stick to facts.
Seek help if you feel distressed. Scams can happen to careful people, and being a victim is not a personal failure.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell a fake payment alert from a real one? Do not judge by the message. Check your balance in your own banking app or account statement. If the money is not there, it has not been paid.

Is it safe to send goods after seeing a transfer receipt? No. A receipt can be edited or faked. Wait until the funds appear in your account.

What is an advance fee scam? It is a fraud where the victim is asked to pay a fee upfront in order to receive a larger payment, prize, contract or goods that never arrive.

Should I trust a buyer who wants to overpay? Treat it as a red flag. Refund nothing until the original payment is fully confirmed and final, or decline the sale.

How do I report a scam? Tell your bank first, then the platform, and then the appropriate authority in your country. Keep all evidence.

Can I get my money back? Sometimes, if you act quickly and the payment method allows it, but there is no assurance. Prevention is better than recovery.

Getting started

Spend ten minutes today enabling two-step verification on your email and bank apps, and write down your own payment verification rule: "No goods leave until the money is in my account." If you want to buy or sell with verified businesses across Africa, create a free Comilmart account, read the scam alert page and use the platform's policies to guide your decisions. There are no listing fees to get started.