Always use escrow. Never rely on anyone’s worthless word alone.

Escrow is the one and only safe way to deal or trade with complete strangers.

These people have no references, no extensive historical presence, no track record, no feedback from independent entities or persons with verifiable and believable reviews. Given the risks, transactions should always involve a trusted middle man. “Test transactions” should never be entered into. The same goes with incremental payments of any kind and amount. Such test trades almost always will require users here (and never ever these “gold traders”) to go or pay first. The goal is to extract any amount upfront. Any amount is, after all, better than nothing.

Use escrow.

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Edit...

Red flags: virtual address. No phone number.