Scams Targeting the Diaspora Sending Money Home
People living abroad who support family or invest back home face specific scams: impersonated relatives, land and property fraud, and building projects that never progress. How to protect yourself.
Millions of people living abroad send money home to support family, pay school fees, buy land or build houses. Distance makes this vulnerable: you cannot easily check who you are paying, what is being built, or whether a relative really sent that urgent message. Scammers, and sometimes people close to the family, exploit that gap.
Common diaspora scams
| Scam | How it works |
|---|---|
| Impersonated relatives | Hacked accounts or new numbers asking for urgent money for hospital bills, fees or emergencies. See family emergency scams. |
| Land fraud | Land sold that the seller does not own, or sold to several buyers, with forged documents. |
| Building projects | Contractors or caretakers who send photos of other buildings and keep asking for more money. |
| Investment offers | "Home" business or property investments pitched through community networks. |
| Fake agents and lawyers | People claiming to handle property, visas or inheritance who disappear with fees. |
| Remittance scams | Fake money transfer websites or agents with better rates. |
Distance is the scammer's advantage. Build independent checks into every payment you send home.
Protecting land and property purchases
- Search official land records where available and confirm who owns the land.
- Use an independent lawyer you choose and verify, not one recommended by the seller.
- Have a trusted person visit the land, and check boundaries and neighbours.
- Pay into accounts in the name of the verified seller or lawyer's client account, with receipts and written agreements.
- Be wary of pressure to decide quickly or of prices well below local market value.
Protecting building projects
- Pay in stages tied to specific, verified progress.
- Ask for live video walk-throughs that you direct, not just photos.
- Use an independent professional, such as a quantity surveyor or engineer, to inspect progress.
- Keep written contracts, receipts and a record of every payment.
- Have more than one trusted person involved in oversight.
Protecting family support
- Agree a family code word for money requests. See set up a family code word.
- Call back on known numbers before sending urgent money.
- Pay school and hospital fees directly to the institution where possible.
- Use established, regulated money transfer services.
- Are these photos of your building? Ask for a live video tour.
- Has an independent person verified progress?
- Do previous payments match receipts and visible work?
Received an urgent money request from home? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check, then call to confirm.
For more, read our guide on how to avoid online scams.
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify land before buying from abroad?
Search the official land registry or lands commission records where available, use an independent lawyer you choose, and have someone you trust visit the site. Do not rely only on documents the seller provides.
How can I check building progress from abroad?
Ask for live video walk-throughs you direct, use independent professionals to inspect the work, and pay in stages tied to verified progress.
A relative's number messaged asking for money urgently. What should I do?
Call the relative on their usual number or through another family member before sending anything. Accounts are hacked and numbers are impersonated.
Sources
- What To Know Before You Wire Money, US Federal Trade Commission
- Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money, US Federal Trade Commission
- Hiring a Lawyer, US Federal Trade Commission
