No, there shouldn't be any direct correlation between implementing KYC procedures and scamming. They may simply be required by the regulatory bodies of their home country.

That being said, you're definitely in greater danger if you disclose your identity, because you have no idea what they'll do with it. Make sure you do proper research before you start giving out your info.

Super news from Western Union! They currently testing Ripple (XRP) for future money transfers.
Western Union Says It's Testing Transactions With Ripple

To determine the ICO the way or step you mentioned is still very inaccurate you should see the team behind the project if they do not have an experienced team it is sure the ICO will fail.

Unfortunately, not all forum participants have the status of a Hero). Therefore, we must participate in various bounties and airdrops. It is important that all newcomers know that personal information does not need to be sent. When the organizers of the company bounty ask you to get personal information, this means a 100% scam.

I'd say the easiest way is to get a couple of part time jobs to temporarily make a stack.. Trading is much MUCH easier with 5000 dollars or more.. its weird because the more money you have the less pressure there feels like on each trade (I know it sounds like it would be the opposite but it isn't trust me).  Most of the people I know who have less than 1000 dollars starting out with tend to over trade and chase gains more... they try to scalp each individual trade with very small stacks and get eaten up in fees and trade emotionally.

So here's what I suggest:

1) Part-time jobs, whatever tasks to get to 5000$ as quickly as possible.  I say quick as possible because a month in crypto can be like 6 months of an actual job once your stack is in play.. don't fiddle around working 2-3 hours a day if you have time for 12-14.. you're young and can take it most likely
2) When you have your stack ready, buy all in at the exchange at once.. Nickel and diming to exchanges from fiat will eat you up in fees.. for example I'd move all 5000 to GDAX (not coinbase) as a deposit.. it will take longer but the wire fee will be 10$ and will deposit as USD so you can buy at a preferreed time (unlike coinbase where you have to pay 2% plus the current fee).  The only exception to this is in a fud market crash you could buy at coinbase when you don't have time to wait for the 5 day bank deposit to clear and its better to just eat the fee to buy right then and there.
3)  Once you hodl bitcoin/ethereum and bought in at a non fomo price (I hope) be PATIENT with trading.. overtrading is not the answer... if you are bored do bounties.. if you are bored of bounties, learn technical analysis.. if you are bored of all things bitcoin read a book on trading.. and if somehow all of that's boring then go the movies with your girlfriend or play a video game.. Don't trade out of boredem, this will eat up noobs and even experienced traders...
4) Work on multiplying bitcoin.. first year try to work on getting a whole bitcoin.. with 3-5k buy in I think that is a reasonable goal.. Next year work on turning 1 BTC into 3..
5) Learn the relationships between BTC/ETH/Alt coins and their comparitive values against eachother.. if you like alt coins you cant ignore BTC.. trade with alts  coins and btc charts open simultaneously.. learn and see how quickly alts react to BTC pricing and why.. and when its more severe.. and  and.. and.. okay well you get the point.
6) Do NOT get greedy and go chasing pump and dumps.. and don't buy investments based off of just what people on youtube or here say.. Everyone shills their own bags and even the most genuine people will give you biased advice.. you have to learn to do your own research because at the end of the day you'll be responsible for the knowledge you gained and the gains you actualized or the following of other's shills and pump and dumps and the bags you are stuck with.

Good luck, hope it is a great 2018 for you.