You found the vendor on Instagram.
You had the conversation.
You agreed on the price.
You transferred the money.
Then the problems started.
The vendor stopped responding.
Your calls aren’t going through.
Your WhatsApp messages are being ignored.
The Instagram page has disappeared—or worse, you’re still seeing the vendor post like nothing happened.
If this has happened to you, your first reaction might be anger, embarrassment or panic.
You may even be thinking:
“I’ve lost my money. There’s nothing I can do.”
That’s not necessarily true.
If you believe an online vendor has defrauded you, there are steps you can take to document what happened, contact the relevant institutions, make a formal complaint and potentially pursue legal remedies.
There is also one important rule:
Don’t delete anything.
Your chats, receipts, screenshots, account details, phone numbers and other records may become important evidence.
This guide explains what to do if an online vendor in Nigeria scams you and the legal and official channels available to you.
First: Don’t Panic
Being scammed can make you want to immediately confront the vendor, threaten them or publicly expose them.
Try not to act impulsively.
Your priority should be preserving evidence and creating a clear record of what happened.
If you transferred money for goods or services that were never delivered, or you believe you were deliberately deceived, treat the situation seriously.
Don’t assume that because the amount was “only” ₦20,000, ₦50,000 or ₦100,000 that reporting it is pointless.
Your documentation may also help authorities identify patterns involving the same person, account or business.
Step 1: Stop Sending More Money
This sounds obvious, but scammers often don’t stop after the first payment.
You may suddenly receive messages like:
“Your package is being held.”
“Pay the clearance fee.”
“You need to complete verification.”
“Send another payment and we’ll refund everything.”
Be careful.
If someone who has already failed to deliver your order asks you for additional money before resolving the original transaction, don’t automatically pay again.
A second payment doesn’t guarantee that the first payment will be recovered.
Step 2: Save Every Piece of Evidence
Before blocking the vendor or deleting the conversation, preserve your records.
Save:
- Screenshots of the vendor’s profile
- The vendor’s Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X or WhatsApp details
- The vendor’s username
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Website addresses
- Bank account details
- Account name
- Payment receipts
- Bank statements or transaction references
- Order details
- Invoices
- Delivery information
- Product advertisements
- Screenshots of the original price
- Conversations with the vendor
- Voice notes where relevant
- Promises about delivery or refunds
- Any threats or suspicious messages
- Names or contact details of other people involved
If the vendor deletes their Instagram account tomorrow, you want to still have evidence showing what the account looked like and how you interacted with it.
Keep the original files where possible
Don’t rely only on cropped screenshots.
Keep original receipts, emails, downloaded files and transaction records.
The more complete your record, the easier it is for someone reviewing your complaint to understand what happened.
Step 3: Write Down Exactly What Happened
Create a simple timeline.
For example:
September 1: Found vendor on Instagram.
September 1: Asked about a particular product.
September 1: Vendor quoted ₦150,000.
September 2: Vendor provided bank details.
September 2: Paid ₦150,000.
September 3: Vendor promised delivery.
September 5: No delivery.
September 6: Vendor stopped responding.
This may seem unnecessary.
It isn’t.
When you report a dispute or suspected fraud, a clear timeline makes your complaint easier to understand.
Don’t exaggerate.
Don’t leave out facts that make you uncomfortable.
Just document what happened.
Step 4: Contact Your Bank or Payment Provider Quickly
If you transferred money electronically, contact your bank or payment provider as soon as possible.
Tell them that you believe you have been defrauded and provide the transaction details.
Have the following information available:
- Transaction date
- Amount
- Transaction reference
- Destination account
- Account name
- Your account details
- Evidence of the transaction
- Relevant communication with the recipient
Ask what procedures are available for reporting the transaction and whether any intervention is possible.
Act quickly
A bank cannot promise that your money will be recovered.
But waiting weeks before reporting the transaction doesn’t improve your position.
The sooner the transaction is reported, the sooner the relevant institution can assess what action, if any, is possible.
Step 5: Report the Matter to the FCCPC
If your complaint involves a business or seller and a consumer transaction, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) may be relevant.
The FCCPC has a consumer complaints system through which consumers can submit complaints.
The Commission’s mandate includes consumer protection and addressing certain unfair business practices.
The FCCPC has also stated that consumers should report suspected violations with evidence and has mechanisms for receiving and investigating consumer complaints.
You can use the FCCPC Consumer Complaints Portal to begin a complaint.
When submitting your complaint, give them a clear account of:
- Who you bought from
- What you purchased
- How much you paid
- When you paid
- What was promised
- What actually happened
- How you attempted to resolve the issue
- What evidence you have
Don’t simply write:
“This vendor scammed me.”
Explain the facts.
Step 6: Report Suspected Cybercrime to the Nigeria Police
If you believe you were deliberately defrauded through an online platform, the matter may also fall within the scope of cybercrime reporting.
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre currently provides an e-Reporting portal through which members of the public can report cybercrime and track their reports.
You can access the National Cybercrime Centre e-Reporting Portal.
When reporting, provide the evidence you’ve collected.
This can include:
- Social media account information
- Phone numbers
- Bank account information
- Transaction references
- Screenshots
- Conversations
- Dates and times
- URLs
- Names used by the vendor
- Any other information that could help identify the person or account
The goal isn’t simply to tell authorities that you lost money.
Give them information that can help establish who was involved and what happened.
Step 7: Consider Reporting Economic or Financial Fraud to the EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigates economic and financial crimes and provides a channel for submitting petitions.
The EFCC’s official website currently provides options to submit and track petitions.
You can access the EFCC official website for its current reporting and petition procedures.
Again, don’t submit a vague accusation.
Present the facts and supporting evidence.
A useful complaint should make it easy to understand:
Who?
Who did you deal with?
What?
What did they promise to provide?
How much?
How much did you pay?
When?
When did the transaction happen?
How?
How did you communicate and make payment?
What happened afterward?
When did the vendor stop responding or fail to fulfil the transaction?
What evidence exists?
What documents, messages and transaction records can support your account?
Step 8: Report the Vendor to the Platform
If the transaction began on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp or another platform, report the account through the platform’s available reporting tools.
This does not replace reporting to Nigerian authorities.
It serves a different purpose.
The platform may be able to review the account for violations of its policies and potentially take action against the account.
Don’t assume that getting an account banned means you’ll get your money back.
Those are separate issues.
Your financial complaint and your platform report should be treated separately.
Step 9: Send the Vendor a Formal Complaint
If you can still contact the vendor, you may want to send a clear written demand before escalating further.
Keep it factual.
State:
- What you purchased
- How much you paid
- When you paid
- What was promised
- What has not been delivered
- What resolution you are requesting
- A reasonable deadline for responding
Avoid threats.
Don’t threaten violence.
Don’t threaten to publish their private information.
Don’t impersonate law enforcement.
Don’t make claims you cannot prove.
A calm written record can be much more useful than an angry argument in someone’s DMs.
Step 10: Understand the Difference Between a Scam and a Business Dispute
This distinction matters.
Not every bad online transaction is automatically fraud.
For example, imagine you order a pair of shoes and the vendor sends the wrong size.
That’s a problem.
If the vendor agrees to replace them but fails to do so, you may have a consumer dispute.
Now imagine a person deliberately creates a fake business, collects money from multiple people, never intended to deliver anything and disappears.
That’s a very different situation.
The facts matter.
Don’t automatically accuse someone of committing a crime simply because you’re unhappy with a transaction.
Document what happened and allow the appropriate authority or legal professional to assess the matter.
What If the Vendor Says They’ll Refund You?
Get the agreement in writing.
If the vendor says:
“I’ll refund you tomorrow.”
keep the message.
If they give you a specific refund amount and date, keep that too.
Don’t delete the conversation simply because the vendor has promised to resolve the issue.
And be cautious if the vendor suddenly asks you to pay another fee before processing your refund.
What If You Paid Through a Bank Transfer?
Keep your bank transaction receipt and reference.
Also record:
- Destination bank
- Account number
- Account name
- Amount
- Date
- Transaction reference
Contact your bank and explain that you believe the transaction is connected to fraud.
Your bank may have procedures for handling suspected fraudulent transactions and can tell you what information they require.
Again, there is no guarantee that a transfer can be reversed or that your money will be recovered.
But reporting quickly gives the relevant institutions the opportunity to assess the situation.
What If You Paid With a Card?
Contact the card issuer or bank as soon as possible.
Explain what happened and ask what dispute or fraud-reporting process applies to the transaction.
Keep the transaction information and evidence of your communication with the vendor.
Don’t assume that because you paid by card, recovery is guaranteed.
The available options depend on the payment method, transaction circumstances and applicable rules.
What If You Paid Through a Payment Platform?
The same principle applies.
Contact the provider through its official support channel and report the transaction.
Use the provider’s official complaint or dispute process where one exists.
Be careful with people who contact you claiming they can “recover your money” if you first pay them a recovery fee.
You can get scammed twice.
Don’t Pay Someone Who Promises to Recover Your Money
This deserves its own warning.
After being scammed, you may become a target for a second scam.
Someone might contact you saying:
“I can recover your money.”
Then they ask for:
- A processing fee
- A verification payment
- Your banking password
- Your OTP
- Your card details
- Remote access to your device
Don’t hand over sensitive banking information to strangers claiming they can recover your funds.
If you need legal assistance, use a legitimate lawyer or recognised legal service rather than someone who randomly contacts you online promising guaranteed recovery.
Can You Take the Vendor to Court?
Potentially, yes—but whether litigation is appropriate depends on the facts of your case.
The appropriate legal route can depend on:
- The amount involved
- The identity of the seller
- Whether the seller is a registered business
- The nature of the transaction
- The evidence available
- Whether the matter is primarily contractual, consumer-related, fraudulent or involves another legal issue
- The applicable court and procedure
If you’re considering court action, particularly where a significant amount of money is involved, speak with a qualified Nigerian lawyer who can assess the specific facts.
Don’t rely solely on a generic internet article to decide what legal action is appropriate for your particular case.
What Evidence Makes Your Case Stronger?
Think of your evidence as a story.
You want someone reviewing the matter to be able to follow the entire transaction.
Identity
Who was the vendor?
Offer
What did they promise to sell or provide?
Agreement
What did you agree to?
Payment
Did you pay?
Proof
Can you prove the payment?
Failure
What did the vendor fail to do?
Communication
What happened when you tried to resolve it?
Identity trail
What information exists that could help identify the person or business?
The more complete this chain is, the easier it is for someone investigating the complaint to understand what happened.
Should You Post the Vendor on Social Media?
It’s understandable to want to warn everyone.
But be careful.
If you decide to publicly discuss your experience, stick to verifiable facts.
For example:
“I paid ₦X on [date] for [product]. The vendor promised delivery by [date]. The product was not delivered and I have been unable to resolve the matter.”
That’s very different from making unsupported accusations about someone’s character or criminal conduct.
Avoid publishing someone’s private information, such as their home address or other sensitive personal details.
And remember:
A viral post is not a substitute for a formal complaint.
Report the matter through the appropriate channels first.
What If the Amount Was Small?
Report it anyway if you believe a crime or consumer violation occurred.
You may think:
“It’s only ₦30,000. Nobody will care.”
But a small amount to one person can become a significant amount if the same person does it repeatedly to dozens or hundreds of people.
Your report can also contribute information that helps authorities identify patterns.
The important thing is to report honestly and provide evidence.
What Ducent Can Change
There is a bigger problem hiding behind many online vendor scams.
Most people only start investigating a vendor after something goes wrong.
By then, the money has already left.
The vendor may have disappeared.
The account may have been deleted.
And the buyer is left trying to reconstruct what happened.
Ducent is built around a different idea:
What if you could check a business before you pay?
Instead of waiting until something goes wrong to ask whether a vendor can be trusted, buyers should have access to useful information about businesses and their transaction history before making a decision.
That’s the future Ducent is working toward.
Because consumer protection shouldn’t begin after you lose your money.
It should begin before you send it.
If You’ve Been Scammed, Remember These 7 Things
1. Stop sending more money.
Don’t let the first loss become a second one.
2. Preserve your evidence.
Don’t delete the chats, receipts or account information.
3. Contact your bank or payment provider quickly.
Give them the transaction details.
4. Report the matter through the appropriate authority.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include the FCCPC, Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre or EFCC.
5. Keep a timeline.
Write down exactly what happened and when.
6. Be careful about public accusations.
Stick to facts you can substantiate.
7. Don’t pay “recovery agents” who promise guaranteed results.
A scammer can target you again after you’ve already been scammed.
The Best Time to Investigate a Vendor Is Before You Pay
Recovering money after a bad transaction can be difficult.
That’s why prevention matters.
Before buying from an unfamiliar online vendor:
Check the business.
Look at its reputation.
Review available customer experiences.
Verify important details.
Understand what you’re agreeing to.
Then decide whether you want to proceed.
Because once the money leaves your account, your options may become more complicated.
And that is precisely why Ducent exists.
Don’t wait until you’ve been scammed to start asking questions.
Check before you buy.
Buy with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if an Instagram vendor scams me?
Save all evidence, contact your bank or payment provider immediately, document what happened, report the matter to the appropriate authorities and report the vendor’s account to the platform.
Can I report an online vendor to the FCCPC?
Potentially, yes. The FCCPC operates a consumer complaints system for consumer-related complaints. The relevance of the Commission will depend on the facts of your particular case.
Can I report an online scam to the Nigerian Police?
Yes. The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre currently provides an e-Reporting portal for reporting cybercrime.
Can I report online fraud to the EFCC?
The EFCC investigates economic and financial crimes and provides an official channel for submitting petitions.
Can my bank reverse a transfer to a scammer?
There is no guarantee that a transfer can be reversed. Contact your bank or payment provider as quickly as possible and provide the transaction details and evidence.
Can I sue an online vendor who took my money?
Potentially, depending on the facts and applicable law. Whether court action is appropriate depends on issues such as the nature of the transaction, amount involved, evidence, identity of the seller and applicable legal procedure. Consider obtaining advice from a qualified Nigerian lawyer.
What evidence should I keep after being scammed?
Keep transaction receipts, bank details, chats, screenshots, invoices, order information, usernames, phone numbers, emails, URLs and any other records connected to the transaction.
Should I publicly expose a vendor who scammed me?
If you choose to share your experience, stick to facts you can substantiate and avoid publishing private information or making unsupported criminal allegations. Public posts should not replace formal reporting.