Possible scam? Red flags I noticed

Public service announcement: always use escrow or trusted payment methods when possible. I learned this the hard way, but hopefully I can help you avoid my mistake. Let me break down the red flags I missed so you don't have to.

The vendor was pushing me hard to use PayPal Friends & Family or crypto direct, saying it was "faster" and "safer for both of us." They had zero vouches on the forum and kept insisting they were new but had "plenty of happy customers" — yet couldn't point me to a single public review. Their prices were suspiciously low, about half of what established sellers charge, which should've been the first clue. When I asked for a sample or proof of recent batches, they got defensive and said I was wasting their time.

Honestly, any vendor who refuses to use a forum-approved escrow or a trusted middleman is basically waving a giant red flag. Another common tactic is the "limited time discount" or "only 2 slots left" pressure — creates false urgency so you don't think twice. I've also seen scammers copy-paste photos from other sellers' previous posts, so always do a reverse image search. If their account is less than a month old with zero history, proceed with extreme caution.

Never skip escrow. If a vendor can't work with a trusted third party, walk away — it's that simple. Use payment methods with buyer protection when possible (credit cards, certain crypto escrow services). Start with a small test order before committing larger amounts. And always, always search the vendor's name here on the forum plus check the blacklist section. I ignored my gut because I wanted a good deal — ended up losing cash and learned a cheap lesson the expensive way.

Protect yourselves, guys. Trust takes time to build, and anyone rushing you is almost always running a game. Do your due diligence, listen to the community, and never send money without some form of safety net.