Please check this, is it not scam? The link is not even https, and want to provide scam service. His bitcointalk account is old but scam tactic I guess.
PVA (phone verified accounts) services is nothing new. There are some websites, apps etc that ask for your phone number. You can give guys like him $0.10 and add another phone number so you avoid getting weird SMS down the road, or just for privacy.
The https thing is not a deal breaker. Seems he did not set up the redirects www -> https , http://www -> https, http -> https.
Would recommend to install the "HTTPS Everywhere" browser addon
