Every year, thousands of Senegalese living abroad send money home to build the house of their dreams. And every year, part of that money vanishes: sites that never move forward, overpriced materials, work that is paid for and never done.
Nobody likes to talk about it, because it so often involves family. But the silence costs millions of CFA francs. Here are the 7 signs that should set off alarm bells, and practical ways to protect yourself.
The 7 signs of a construction scam
1. The same photos for months
You get pictures, but always from the same angle, at the same time of day, with the same details. A site that is moving forward looks different every week. If the photos from January look like the ones from June, your money is probably not in those walls.
2. There is always a new unexpected expense
“Cement has gone up.” “We need more sand.” “The mason wants an advance.” Material prices do change, that is true. But when every call ends with a request for money and no invoice or receipt, rising prices make a very convenient excuse.
3. You can never get a video call from the site
You ask for a simple live video on site, and there is always an excuse: the network, the rain, the phone. A ten minute video call is the simplest check there is. Someone who always refuses it has a reason.
4. No invoice, no receipt, nothing in writing
Everything runs “on trust”: no signed quote, no invoices for materials, no receipts for what was paid to the mason. Without paperwork, there is no way to know where the money goes, and no way to claim anything afterwards.
5. Progress is always vague
“It's going well.” “We'll be at the roof soon.” But nobody can tell you exactly what percentage is done, what has been paid and what is left. A healthy site can be measured: in stages, in amounts, in dates. Vagueness is a choice.
6. Photos that look too good to be true
A new twist in the age of artificial intelligence: it now takes 30 seconds to add a floor to a house in a photo. A picture on its own no longer proves anything. Be wary of perfect photos with none of the details of a real site (tools, rubble, workers), and insist on photos and videos that are geolocated and time stamped.
7. Pressure to send money fast
“We have to pay for the truck today or we lose the sand.” Constant urgency is a classic tactic: it stops you from thinking and checking. A real building site is planned. Genuine emergencies do happen, but they can be proven.
Why it happens even with family
In most cases, the person keeping an eye on your site is someone close to you: a cousin, an uncle, a friend. And that is exactly the problem.
Even if they are honest, your relative does not know construction: they cannot see that a wall is badly built or that a slab has too little cement. Above all, they cannot say no to the mason, because social pressure will not let them.
It is not a question of trust. It is a question of expertise and independence.
How to protect your money: the 5 rules
1. Pay in stages, never in large sums
Split the build into phases (foundations, walls, slab, roof, finishing) and only pay for each phase once the previous one has been checked. It is the most effective rule there is: your money does not move without proof.
2. Insist on geolocated, time stamped proof
Photos and videos with GPS location and date, taken from several angles, at every stage. Turn down single pictures sent with no context.
3. Keep a written record of everything
A signed quote before work starts, invoices for materials, a receipt for every payment. In Senegal as everywhere else, what is not written down does not exist.
4. Have it checked by someone independent
The check must come from someone who knows neither the mason nor the family, and who does know construction: a civil engineering technician who visits the site, measures the real progress and tells you the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
5. Compare the money sent with the value built
At any moment, you should be able to answer this question: how much have I sent, and how much is what has actually been built worth? If nobody can give you those two figures, you are flying blind.
Want to know where your site really stands?
SEETLU is the independent construction site monitoring service for the Senegalese diaspora. Approved technicians visit your site, anywhere in Senegal, and take dated, geolocated, sealed photos.
You receive a report within 24 hours, reviewed by SEETLU, and every instalment is checked on site before you pay your builder. You pay your builder directly: SEETLU never touches your money.
Already a client? Find all your reports in your client area.
Frequently asked questions
How much does construction site monitoring cost in Senegal?
At SEETLU, prices are monthly, per residential site, up to 100 m² and then per m². Essentiel: 39,000 FCFA a month for one visit a month. Confort: 99,000 FCFA a month for one visit a week. Premium: 300,000 FCFA a month for three visits a week, with one camera included.
A diagnostic visit costs 39,000 FCFA, and you get your quote the same day. Full details are on our plans page.
I already suspect a problem on my site. What should I do?
Do not cut ties and do not accuse anyone without proof. First get an independent assessment: real progress, the quality of the work as observed, and the value of what has been built compared with the money sent.
That is what the SEETLU diagnostic visit is for (39,000 FCFA). With that report in hand, you will know exactly where you stand and can calmly decide what to do next.
How do I receive the reports?
In your SEETLU client area. Each report arrives within 24 hours of the visit, reviewed by SEETLU, with dated, geolocated, sealed photos. You will also find your site's timeline, your quotes and your invoices there.
Does site monitoring work outside Dakar?
Yes. SEETLU has approved technicians in every region of Senegal: Dakar, Thiès, Touba, Mbour, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor and beyond.
More questions? Read our FAQ, compare our plans, or write to us on WhatsApp at +221 78 750 69 19 and at contact@seetlu.com.