I think that approach is wrong.

I'd say that in investing or any situation where your counter-party stands to gain if they cheat you, rather than assuming someone is trustworthy and looking for reasons not to trust them, you assume the opposite and then look for examples of trustworthy behaviour.

When the person is only known to you by a forum nickname and they live in a country with far different laws and culture about ethical behaviour, you need to see evidence that proves trust, you need to see a lot of it, and you need to see it regularly.

I know, friedcat has done plenty of things in the past that demonstrated that he should be trusted. But what has he done recently? Circumstances change. People change. I've been burned big-time by someone on this forum, after earlier trusting them, and having a great deal of respect for their ability. They dealt with their investors fairly, right up until the point they screwed them.

Disclaimer: previous AM shareholder, not a current shareholder.