How to Verify a Payment and Spot a Fake Bank Alert in Nigeria

Fake-alert scams target anyone who sells or receives money — a convincing screenshot or SMS claiming a transfer was sent, when nothing has actually landed. Protecting yourself is simple once you know the one rule: confirm the money in your own account, never on the sender’s word.

How to verify a payment properly

• Open your own banking app or dial your bank’s USSD and check your real balance and transaction list.
• Don’t rely on an SMS alert alone — alerts can be delayed, and texts can be faked.
• For large sums, wait for the funds to reflect and be available, not just “pending”.

Signs of a fake alert

• A screenshot or forwarded SMS instead of money showing in your app.
• Pressure to release goods or cash immediately, before you can check.
• A “debit alert” from the sender with no matching credit on your side.

Stay safe

Never hand over goods, cash or crypto on the strength of a screenshot. The same discipline protects you in P2P trading and when transferring between banks. If you deal in FX, confirm the naira actually landed before you act.