Safety Tips
Safety Tips — Tibu.ng
Stay Safe on Tibu
Tibu.ng is built around verified sellers and transparent listings — but no marketplace can guarantee every interaction. These tips will help you buy, sell, and meet safely every time.
For Buyers
Before You Contact a Seller
- Check the seller's verification badge. NIN-verified sellers have confirmed their identity with the Nigerian government. Phone-verified sellers are real people but have not completed identity verification. Prefer NIN-verified sellers for high-value items.
- Read the seller's reviews. Look for patterns — not just the star rating. One-line reviews mean little; detailed reviews describing the item condition and meeting experience carry more weight.
- Look at the photos carefully. Legitimate sellers post clear photos from multiple angles in good lighting. Blurry, single-photo listings or stock-looking images are a warning sign. Tibu watermarks every photo with the listing ID — if a seller sends you photos without watermarks "outside the app," those photos may be from somewhere else.
- Check when the account was created. A brand-new account selling an expensive item at a steep discount is a red flag.
- Search for the same photos elsewhere. Use Google Reverse Image Search to check whether listing photos appear on other websites under a different item or price.
Communicating with Sellers
- Keep all conversations on the Tibu platform. Messages sent through Tibu are logged and can be reviewed if a dispute arises. Sellers who immediately push you to WhatsApp, Telegram, or email before you have confirmed the item details are avoiding accountability.
- Never pay before seeing the item. Tibu does not offer buyer protection for off-platform transfers. Any seller asking for upfront payment via bank transfer, crypto, or airtime top-up before you have physically inspected the item is almost certainly a scammer.
- Be cautious of urgency. "I have five other buyers" or "this price is only for today" are pressure tactics. Legitimate sellers do not need to rush you.
- Do not share your OTP, password, or bank PIN with anyone. Tibu support will never ask for this. No legitimate seller needs it either.
Meeting in Person
- Meet in a public place during daylight hours. Busy locations like bank branches, shopping malls, or fast-food restaurants are ideal. Avoid the seller's home or yours for a first meeting, especially for high-value transactions.
- Bring a friend or family member. For items above ₦50,000, do not go alone.
- Test the item before you hand over any money. Power on phones. Test appliances. Drive the vehicle. Inspect property in person with a trusted person or agent. If the seller refuses to let you test the item before payment, walk away.
- Pay in person, not before. If you must transfer, only do so after you are holding the item and satisfied with its condition.
- Tell someone where you are going. Share the seller's profile link, the meeting location, and your expected return time with a friend or family member.
For Vehicle and Property Transactions
- Verify the documents before any payment. For vehicles: request the original Vehicle Licence (particulars), proof of ownership, and Customs Duty papers if the vehicle was imported. Cross-check the engine number and chassis number against the documents.
- Use a lawyer for property transactions. Never pay a property deposit based on listings alone. Always engage a lawyer to conduct a title search at the Land Registry before signing anything. NIESV/ESVARBON-licensed agents are preferred.
- Beware of rent scams. A landlord or agent who is "abroad" and wants you to pay before you view the property is running a scam. Always physically inspect a property before any payment.
- Do not pay "reservation fees" to strangers. Any agent asking for money to "hold" a property before showing it to you should be treated as suspicious.
For Sellers
Protecting Your Listings
- Watermark your photos. Tibu automatically watermarks all uploaded listing photos. This deters image theft and helps identify your photos if they are misused.
- Do not share your phone number publicly in the listing description. Use the Tibu message system. Posting your number exposes you to spam and scam calls from people who will never buy anything.
- Be specific about the item's condition. Honest descriptions protect you from disputes. Use the condition grades (Brand New, Like New, Good, Fair, For Parts) accurately.
Meeting Buyers Safely
- Meet in public. You are also at risk during in-person transactions. Avoid having buyers come to your home, especially for expensive items.
- Verify payment before handing over the item. Do not accept screenshots of transfer confirmations. Wait for the actual credit alert from your bank. Fake transfer screenshots are a common scam.
- Be cautious of overpayment scams. A buyer who sends more than the agreed amount and asks you to refund the difference has almost certainly sent you a fraudulent transfer that will be reversed by their bank.
- Trust your instincts. If a buyer is overly insistent, makes unreasonable demands, or something feels off — cancel the transaction.
If Something Goes Wrong
1. Stop all communication with the other party immediately.
2. Do not transfer any more money.
3. Report the listing or user using the flag icon on their profile or listing page. Tibu's trust team reviews all reports within 24 hours.
4. Report to EFCC if you have been defrauded. File a complaint at [efcc.gov.ng](https://efcc.gov.ng) or call the EFCC toll-free line: 0800 000 3322
5. Contact your bank immediately if you made a bank transfer. Banks can sometimes reverse fraudulent transactions if you act within hours.
6. Contact Tibu support at safety@tibu.ng with the username, listing URL, transaction amount, and any screenshots of your conversation.
Tibu's Safety Features
- NIN Verification — sellers who complete NIN + selfie verification have had their identity confirmed against NIMC records.
- Deal Safety Score — every listing carries a trust score based on seller verification level, account age, review history, and photo authenticity signals.
- Immutable Reviews — buyers and sellers can leave reviews that cannot be deleted by the other party. This creates an honest record of every user's trading history.
- Listing Watermarks — every listing photo is watermarked with the Tibu listing ID, deterring photo theft.
- Flagging System — any user can report a suspicious listing or profile. Repeated flags trigger automatic review.
Safety is a shared responsibility. Tibu provides the tools — use them.
For safety-related reports: safety@tibu.ng
Last updated: May 2026