Avoiding Land Fraud in Lomé: A Buyer's Guide
How to spot the most common land scams when buying a plot in Lomé: multiple sales, fake sellers, unverified documents, and protective steps before paying.
Strong demand for land in Lomé has come with a rise in land fraud, particularly in the fast-growing peri-urban zones. The same plot can be sold to several different buyers before the fraud is discovered, often too late. This guide complements our article on Land Title and building permits in Togo by focusing on the riskiest phase: the one before signing.
The most common fraud: multiple sales
In Togo, it is not uncommon for the same plot to be sold several times to different buyers, particularly in Lomé's peri-urban zones where oversight is harder to enforce. The victim often only discovers this when trying to register their parcel, at which point another buyer already claims the same land.
The reflex to adopt before any payment
Never pay the full price before signing at the notary's office. Limit your deposit to a maximum of 10% of the total amount: this is the best protection you have against land fraud, as it limits your financial exposure if the transaction turns out to be fraudulent.
Checks to carry out systematically
- Request the seller's NUP (Unique Parcel Number) and check its consistency with the documents presented.
- Check the registration request status directly on the official platform e-foncier.otr.tg/suivi, which shows whether a procedure is already underway on the parcel in question.
- Always go through a notary using the OTR platform, now a necessary condition to secure a sale in Togo.
- Hire a surveyor to precisely locate the plot's geographic coordinates and confirm there is no pending registration request at the DCCFE.
A notarized deed is mandatory
A land sale without a notarized deed has no legal value in Togo. Be wary of any arrangement presented as faster or cheaper that bypasses this step: this is exactly the kind of shortcut that exposes buyers to the costliest scams.
The specific case of diaspora buyers
A remote purchase multiplies the risks, since physical checks (boundary markers, actual occupation, neighboring plots) are harder to carry out yourself. Appointing a trusted person on site, or using a professional independent from the seller for on-the-ground checks, remains the best protection in this situation.
Sources: LQDD, Buying Land in Togo Without Getting Scammed (2026)