How to Avoid Property Scams in Guyana

# How to Avoid Property Scams in Guyana

*By Guyana HomeHub Team*

Let's not sugarcoat this. Property scams happen in Guyana. They happen more often than most people want to admit. And the victims are almost always the same — diaspora buyers living abroad who trust the wrong person.

We've heard the stories. A man in Brooklyn sends $15,000 to a "seller" he met on Facebook. The property doesn't exist. The money is gone. A woman in Toronto wires a deposit through her cousin's friend who "knows a guy with land." Six months later, she finds out the land was sold to three different people. A family in London loses their retirement savings on a house that the seller didn't even own.

These aren't rare cases. They happen every month.

The good news? Property scams are almost entirely preventable. If you know what to look for and follow a few basic rules, you can buy property in Guyana safely. This guide will show you how.

## Why Diaspora Buyers Are Targeted

Before we get into the scams themselves, you need to understand why you're a target.

**You're far away.** You can't easily visit the property, meet the seller face-to-face, or check things out in person. Scammers know this.

**You trust family and friends.** Many diaspora buyers rely on relatives back home to handle things. Scammers exploit this by inserting themselves into those chains of trust — or by targeting your relatives directly.

**You're eager.** Property prices are rising. The oil boom has everyone talking about Guyana. You don't want to miss out. Scammers use urgency to pressure you into acting fast before you can verify anything.

**The system is unfamiliar.** The "Transport" system, the Deeds Registry, the legal process — it's different from what you know in the US, Canada, or UK. Scammers count on your confusion.

None of this means you shouldn't buy property in Guyana. It means you need to be smart about how you do it.

## The Most Common Property Scams

Here's what to watch for.

### 1. The Fake Seller

This is the most common scam. Someone posts a property for sale — usually on Facebook — but they don't actually own it. They might have photos of a real property, but they have no legal right to sell it.

How it works: They show you pictures, maybe even give you an address to look up on Google Maps. Everything looks legitimate. They pressure you to move fast because "someone else is interested." You send a deposit. They disappear.

**How to protect yourself:** Never buy from anyone without verifying ownership through a title search at the Deeds Registry. This is non-negotiable.

### 2. Selling the Same Property Multiple Times

In Guyana, there are many "absentee landlords" — property owners who live abroad or properties where the owner has died and the heirs haven't sorted things out. Scammers identify these properties and sell them to multiple buyers, knowing the real owner isn't around to notice.

How it works: You pay for the property. So do two other people. Eventually, someone tries to claim it and discovers the mess. The scammer is long gone with everyone's money.

**How to protect yourself:** A proper title search will show if there are any existing claims or transactions on the property. An attorney will also check for pending sales or encumbrances.

### 3. Forged Documents

Some scammers create fake Transport documents or forge the owner's signature on agreements of sale. These documents can look very convincing.

How it works: They show you what looks like a legitimate Transport proving they own the property. You trust the document. You pay. Later you find out the document was forged and the real owner had no idea their property was "sold."

**How to protect yourself:** Never accept documents at face value. Your attorney must verify documents directly with the Deeds Registry. A photocopy or PDF proves nothing.

### 4. Power of Attorney Fraud

This one is sneaky. Someone claims to have Power of Attorney to sell a property on behalf of the owner who is "overseas" or "unable to handle the transaction." Sometimes the Power of Attorney is real but limited — it doesn't actually authorize property sales. Sometimes it's completely fake.

How it works: The scammer produces a Power of Attorney document and claims they're authorized to sell. You deal with them instead of the actual owner. The sale happens, but it's not legally valid because the Power of Attorney was fraudulent or didn't cover property sales.

**How to protect yourself:** If anyone claims to be selling on someone else's behalf, verify the Power of Attorney directly with the Deeds Registry where it should be filed. Your attorney should handle this.

### 5. The "Too Good to Be True" Deal

If a property seems significantly underpriced compared to similar listings, ask yourself why. Scammers use attractive prices to draw in victims who want a bargain.

How it works: The price is 30-40% below market value. The seller has a story — they need to sell fast, they're leaving the country, family emergency. You jump at the deal without proper verification because you're afraid of losing it. That's exactly what they wanted.

**How to protect yourself:** Research comparable prices. If something seems too cheap, it probably is. Take your time. A real seller will wait for you to do proper due diligence.

### 6. The Deposit Grab

Some scammers don't even bother with fake documents. They just take your deposit and vanish.

How it works: You agree to buy a property. They ask for a deposit to "secure" it — 10%, 20%, sometimes more. You send the money directly to their bank account or through an informal transfer. They stop responding. Property? What property?

**How to protect yourself:** Deposits should go through your attorney's escrow account, not directly to the seller. Never send money to a personal account.

## Red Flags to Watch For

If any of these come up, slow down and verify everything:

- **Seller won't let you involve an attorney.** They say it's unnecessary or will slow things down. This is a major red flag.

- **Pressure to act fast.** "Someone else is making an offer today." "This price is only good until Friday." Real sellers can wait for you to do due diligence.

- **Communication only through WhatsApp or Facebook.** No office, no business address, no verifiable identity.

- **They can't provide clear documentation.** They're vague about the title, can't show you the Transport, or make excuses for why documents aren't available.

- **Price is significantly below market.** If it seems too good to be true, investigate why.

- **They want money sent to a personal account.** Professional transactions go through attorney escrow or verified business accounts.

- **They discourage you from visiting.** They have reasons why you shouldn't come see the property or have someone check it out.

- **The story keeps changing.** Details about ownership, property size, or history don't stay consistent.

Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

## How to Verify Any Property Before Buying

Here's your protection checklist. Don't skip any of these steps.

### Step 1: Hire a Guyanese Attorney

This is your most important protection. A local attorney who specializes in property law will:

- Conduct a title search at the Deeds Registry or Land Registry
- Verify the seller is the legal owner
- Check for liens, mortgages, or other encumbrances
- Review all documents for authenticity
- Handle the money through proper escrow

Do not try to save money by skipping legal representation. The attorney's fee is a fraction of what you could lose to fraud.

### Step 2: Conduct a Title Search

Your attorney will go to the Deeds Registry (for Transport properties) or Land Registry (for Certificate of Title properties) and search the records. They're looking to confirm:

- The seller's name matches the registered owner
- The property boundaries are correctly described
- There are no outstanding mortgages or debts attached to the property
- There are no legal disputes or claims
- The seller has the right to sell

This search is your proof. Without it, you're flying blind.

### Step 3: See the Property

If you can travel to Guyana, visit the property yourself. Walk the land. See the house. Talk to neighbors. Get a feel for what you're actually buying.

If you can't travel, have someone you trust absolutely — not a friend of a friend, but someone you would trust with your life savings — go see it for you. Take photos. Take video. Verify the address matches the documents.

### Step 4: Verify the Seller's Identity

Who is this person? Can they prove they are who they claim to be? Do they have a physical address and business presence, or are they just a WhatsApp number?

If they claim to be a real estate agent, ask for their license from the Guyana Revenue Authority. If they claim to represent a company, verify the company exists.

### Step 5: Use Proper Payment Channels

Money should flow through your attorney's escrow account. This creates a paper trail and means the seller doesn't get paid until the transaction is legally complete.

Never wire money directly to an individual. Never use informal transfer services for large amounts. Never pay cash.

## Why Facebook Marketplace Is Risky

We need to talk about Facebook specifically because that's where most diaspora buyers go — and where most victims find the scammers.

Facebook Marketplace has no verification. Anyone can post anything. There's no check that the person posting actually owns the property. There's no accountability if something goes wrong. Facebook won't get your money back.

Does that mean every listing on Facebook is a scam? No. Legitimate sellers use Facebook too. But you have no way to know the difference just by looking at a post.

If you find a property on Facebook that interests you:

- Do not send money based on the Facebook conversation alone
- Verify the seller's identity independently
- Hire an attorney to do a title search before proceeding
- Treat it with the same caution you'd treat a stranger on the street offering to sell you a house

Better yet, start your search on a platform where listings are connected to verified, licensed agents — like Guyana HomeHub. We built this platform specifically because the Facebook free-for-all was burning too many people.

## What to Do If You've Been Scammed

If you've already lost money to a property scam, here's what you can do:

1. **Document everything.** Save all messages, emails, receipts, and documents related to the transaction.

2. **Report to the Guyana Police Force.** File a report with the police in Guyana. Fraud is a crime, and while recovery is difficult, a police report creates an official record.

3. **Contact your bank.** If you wired money, contact your bank immediately. In some cases, wire transfers can be reversed if caught quickly.

4. **Consult a Guyanese attorney.** A lawyer may be able to advise you on legal options, though recovery through the courts is often slow and uncertain.

5. **Warn others.** Share your experience (without naming names unless you're certain and have legal backing) to help others avoid the same fate.

The honest truth is that recovering money from scammers is very difficult. Prevention is far better than cure. That's why we wrote this guide.

## Buy Property Safely with Guyana HomeHub

We started Guyana HomeHub because we saw too many diaspora buyers getting hurt. The market was a mess — Facebook posts, word of mouth, no accountability, no standards.

On Guyana HomeHub, every listing is connected to a real estate agent. You can browse properties with confidence, knowing there's a professional on the other side who can be held accountable.

Does that mean you can skip due diligence? No. You should still hire an attorney. You should still do a title search. Those steps protect you no matter where you find a property.

But starting your search on a professional platform — instead of scrolling Facebook and hoping for the best — puts you in a much stronger position from day one.

**[Browse verified listings on Guyana HomeHub](/properties/buy) →**

## Your Scam Protection Checklist

Before you send any money for a property in Guyana:

- ☐ I have hired a Guyanese attorney specializing in property
- ☐ My attorney has conducted a title search at the Deeds Registry or Land Registry
- ☐ Ownership has been verified — the seller is the legal owner
- ☐ There are no liens, mortgages, or encumbrances on the property
- ☐ I have seen the property myself or had someone I trust absolutely verify it
- ☐ I have verified the seller's identity
- ☐ If an agent is involved, I have confirmed they are licensed
- ☐ All payments are going through my attorney's escrow account
- ☐ I am not being pressured to rush
- ☐ The price is reasonable compared to similar properties

If you can check all of these boxes, you're protected. If you can't, stop and address whatever is missing.

## Final Thoughts

Buying property in Guyana is absolutely possible to do safely. Thousands of diaspora buyers do it every year without problems. The ones who get burned are almost always the ones who skipped steps — who trusted too easily, who didn't verify, who let urgency override caution.

Don't be that person.

Take your time. Hire professionals. Verify everything. And when you're ready to start your search, do it on a platform that takes your safety seriously.

Your dream of owning property back home is within reach. Just do it the right way.

*Have questions about buying safely? Browse our [other property guides](/guides) or [contact a licensed agent](https://wa.me/5927629797) through Guyana HomeHub.*