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Land fraud in Sierra Leone: 10 warning signs and how to protect yourself

Double sales, forged or altered documents and sellers who don't own the land are the frauds land buyers in Sierra Leone meet most often. If you see any of these signs, stop and check before paying.

Updated 7 November 2026 · by the Land Police team

The warning signs

  1. The price is far too low for the area.
  2. You are pressed to pay today, often because “another buyer” is waiting.
  3. The seller won't let your lawyer see the original documents, or only sends photos.
  4. Names don't match: the seller's ID differs from the conveyance, or a relative is selling for an owner who is abroad or has died.
  5. The survey plan doesn't match the land: area, shape or beacons differ on the ground.
  6. Someone else is using the land, or neighbours say it was sold before.
  7. Customary land without the family's recorded consent.
  8. Payment to a personal account or in cash, or before the documents are checked.
  9. Documents that look altered: different inks or fonts, missing signatures, witnesses or stamps, or dates that don't add up.
  10. An agent who won't give their full name and address or insists you deal only through them.

Protect yourself

If you think you've been defrauded

Keep every document, receipt and message. Report it to the police and tell your lawyer. If a Land Police certificate or record is involved, email us through our complaints page and we will treat it urgently.

Questions

What is a double sale of land?

When the same plot is sold to two or more buyers, often with similar-looking documents. An official search, a check for earlier transactions and paying through escrow protect against it.

How can I tell if a land document is fake?

Have a lawyer check it against the official registry. Warning signs include altered text, missing signatures or stamps, names that don't match the seller's ID, and a survey plan that doesn't match the land.

Search a land certificate ($5)Get a due-diligence report

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Land law and registry practice in Sierra Leone are changing; check with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning and a Sierra Leone lawyer before you pay for land.

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