Run! These 5 Lagos Locations Are Scammer Zones for Fake Travel Agencies
✈️ So You Want to JAPA? Better Read This Before You Buy That Fake Visa!
If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping Lagos traffic and fuel scarcity for the snowy streets of Canada or the clean metros of the UK, you’re not alone. But just before you hit “send” on that ₦850,000 WhatsApp transfer to one “Agent Kelvin” who claims he’s got “UK Work Visa + Job + Accommodation + 2 goats” in 10 days… pause. ✋🏽
Because Lagos is not just the city of hustle — it’s also the headquarters of travel scam 101.
Today, we’re breaking down 5 Lagos locations where fake travel agents operate like Yahoo boys with extra passport stamps — with real stories, court cases, and enough laughs to cry. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
1. Iyana-Ipaja – The Visa Bermuda Triangle 🔺
This place deserves a whole Netflix documentary. Iyana-Ipaja is famous for one thing: fake travel dreams served hot by road-side agents. In one high-profile case, a man was duped of ₦450,000 with a “guaranteed Dubai visa” — all it got him was fresh air and blocked calls. [Source: PM News Nigeria]
Reddit and Nairaland users repeatedly name-drop Iyana-Ipaja as a scam zone, where some “agencies” operate out of cyber cafés and beer parlours. If the travel agent’s office is beside a suya stand, my brother… you already know.
2. Surulere (Mushin/Otun-Oba Axis) – Where Passport and Pepper Mix 🌶️📄
Don’t let the calm of Surulere fool you. One Kenneth Udemba, operating near Otun-Oba Bus Stop, allegedly scammed two people of ₦1.2 million while promising visas to Denmark and Australia. [Source: PM News Nigeria]
The modus operandi? Dress sharp, talk sweet, flash “visa samples,” then disappear like Lagos light during rain. Real agencies don’t work off bus-stop benches. Ask for a CAC certificate and watch their mood change.
3. Lagos Island (Tinubu, CMS) – Where Your Money Gets Offshore’d 🌊
Yes, Lagos Island is the economic heart of the city… but it’s also a breeding ground for next-level travel scams. In 2022, one Faustina Okonkwo was accused of duping clients of over ₦4.6 million while promising “Canada express entry.” Express indeed — straight into her pocket.
In another 2024 incident, Balogun Olamide Yusuf disappeared with a whopping ₦11 million from hopeful japa clients before EFCC caught up with him. [Source: PM News Nigeria]
4. Festac / Iyana-Iba – Where Cyber Cafés Become Embassy Extensions 💻🛑
These areas are flooded with “travel agents” running out of internet cafés. They’ll show you visa scans, LMIA letters, even fake job offers — all printed that same morning behind the counter where WAEC results are “adjusted.”
If your agent is using Yahoo-Mail and printing documents from a third-hand HP printer in Festac, save yourself. Even Google Maps can’t find their business name.
5. Social Media Streets – WhatsApp & Instagram Agencies of Doom 📱🚫
If the agent’s whole business is an Instagram bio and a highlight reel of random passport pages, run faster than someone who just saw LASTMA.
Pages like “@skywithustravels” or “@visa_approved” lure people with low-price offers, then ghost after payment. No face, no office, no refund. Reddit users have shared horror stories of how ₦700k disappeared in a flash, just like the agency account.
🎯 Real Talk: Why People Still Fall Victim
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Desperation to japa: The dream is so sweet that we ignore red flags.
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Too-good-to-be-true deals: ₦400k for a UK job + accommodation? Na scam!
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Lack of research: Most people don’t check if the agency is even registered with NANTA or CAC.
✅ Scam-Proof Your Japa Journey – Quick Checklist:
| ✅ Step | 🔍 Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Ask for CAC/NANTA registration | Legit agents will proudly show you |
| Insist on a physical office | If they say “I’m always mobile,” they’re already running |
| Don’t pay 100% upfront | Secure agencies accept deposits |
| Google them | Check for reviews on Nairaland, Reddit, or Twitter |
| Avoid “agents” by bus stops | Real travel plans don’t start under umbrellas |
💬 Lagosians Speak:
“My friend paid ₦600k to an agent at Iyana-Ipaja, now he’s doing POS in the same area waiting for refund.” – Ugo, Surulere
“They showed my cousin a fake UK visa, we found out it was edited with Canva. CANVA o!” – Sarah, Festac
👏 Final Words from Eyes of Lagos:
Japa is real. Travel is possible. But don’t let your dreams become drama. The agents might be wearing suits, but some of them are just Yahoo boys with passports.
Stay sharp. Ask questions. And if you’re reading this from Iyana-Ipaja… abeg shine your eye.