Fraud Prevention

We use layered verification, AI checks, and manual review to keep makaug safer for buyers, renters, brokers, and property listers.

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Identity Verification

OTP + National ID checks before listing submission and publishing review.

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AI Fraud Signals

Image duplication checks, suspicious listing patterns, and document anomaly checks.

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Manual review

Every new listing is reviewed before going live. High-risk entries are escalated.

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Owner Registration Review

Verified owner status is added by admin only after follow-up checks, including Ministry of Lands confirmation where needed.

How our review flow works

1Submit: Listing details, photos, contact info, and verification data are captured.
2Automated checks: We run OTP checks, format checks, risk scoring, and duplication detection.
3Team review: High-confidence listings are approved; suspicious ones are held or rejected.
4Decision + notify: Lister receives status and reason. Approved listings publish to public pages.
5Registration review: makaug admin controls owner and broker verification badges after supporting checks are complete.

We cooperate with lawful authority requests under Ugandan law where fraud, forgery, or impersonation is suspected.

Safety tips for users

Never pay before viewing a property physically.
Verify ownership/title details before any deposit.
Use registered brokers for high-value transactions.
Report suspicious listings immediately with screenshots.

WhatsApp Fraud Team

Review Snapshot

What our fraud detection looks at before a listing goes live

The system checks verification, duplicated content, image quality, and suspicious behavior signals before an admin can approve a listing.

Live review logic

Green = clear, amber = review, red = blocked until fixed or overridden by admin review.

Identity + OTP check

PASS

Phone/email OTP, ID number format, and document availability are checked together.

Duplicate content scan

REVIEW

We compare title, location, ID reuse, and repeated image patterns before publishing.

Image + location quality

PASS

Minimum photo count, usable uploads, and map pin / location consistency are verified.

Decision + outreach

BLOCK IF FAIL

If checks fail, the lister receives a reason. If approved, makaug sends live and sharing links.

review console preview

Example of the checks used before approval

QA style view

OTP verification completed

Green

Phone/email confirmed for the same listing contact details.

Previous lister history checked

Warning

The system found earlier listings and flags them for admin review, not instant rejection.

Critical mismatch / fraud signal

Fail

Blocking failures stop approval until fixed, or until reviewed and explicitly overridden in admin.

What we monitor continuously

Listing quality

Misleading titles, fake pricing, copied descriptions.

Media checks

Stolen images, repeated images, poor or suspicious uploads.

Identity integrity

NIN format mismatch, OTP mismatch, impossible contact patterns.

Behavior risk

Bulk spam, repeated complaint signals, repeat fraud patterns.

makaug review team reviewing property safety checks

makaug Safety Desk

Fraud reports are treated as urgent cases, not ordinary support tickets.

Screenshots, payment references, chat history, duplicate listings, and location mismatches are grouped into one AI-assisted review record so the team can act quickly.

Verification examples

How makaug reduces risk before users meet or pay

Account and contact consistency

We compare account details, OTP verification, listed contact method, and repeated phone or email patterns.

Location and title checks

Map pins, district, area, street name, title type, and owner-verification requests are reviewed together.

Photo and video evidence

Required photo slots, repeated images, poor uploads, and YouTube tour links are checked before approval.

Block, hold, or escalate

Admins can hold listings, request more proof, block accounts, or escalate repeat suspicious behavior.