I'm shocked that even in hindsight people don't see the signs... Reputations are earned through time and honest dealings, not with identifications and promises.
Doesnt guarantee a thing. Dont you remember the 'why I trust Patrick Harnett" threads, Pirate had the top rating on OTC, and have you seen JohnK lately? If a contract isnt enforceable by legal means, you can bet on getting scammed sooner or later. AM may be the proverbial exception that proves the rule. So far.