How to know if an Instagram vendor is legit in Nigeria

Look beyond the follower count

A vendor having many followers does not automatically mean every transaction will be safe. Look at how long the page appears to have been active, the type of posts it publishes and whether activity looks consistent.

Check the comments carefully

Look at more than one post. Are comments open? Do customers appear to ask normal questions? Are there complaints about delivery or refunds?

Comments can be useful context, but they should not be your only check.

Pay attention to the account you are asked to transfer to

Before making a bank transfer, compare the account name you are given with the name or business you believe you are dealing with.

A different account name does not automatically mean something is wrong, but it is reasonable to ask the vendor who owns the account and why you are paying that person.

Be careful when everything feels rushed

Be cautious if you are being pushed to transfer immediately, especially when you are not being given enough time to ask questions about the item, delivery or payment.

Ask about delivery clearly

Before paying, confirm what delivery actually means. Ask when the item will be sent, where it is coming from, whether delivery is included and how you will know when the dispatch rider has picked it up.

Keep a record before you transfer

Save the vendor's username, the product post, your conversation and the payment details before sending money. This is useful if the page later changes.

Already paid and something went wrong?

If you already made payment and the transaction has become a problem, you can document what happened through B4YouSend.