I’ve always thought Doug’s long-standing warning that’s been pinned at the top of this forum to be a bit extreme, because his harsh wording there sort of implies that everyone’s a potential scammer. However, in light of recent developments with scammers hijacking people’s accounts and then offering items for sale (usually expensive gold bullion coins) under those assumed identities, perhaps Doug’s blunt warning from the past is warranted more than ever. Be very careful before buying. Know who you’re dealing with. Ask for references. And even if the transaction is with a name you recognize, confirm that it’s really them and not a hijacked account! A little homework can save you some heartache. Look for departures from the norm. For example, if the purported seller is someone who’s primarily known to deal with ancient coins, be wary if they’re suddenly offering a gold US bullion coin with scant details and no pictures. Sure, it might really be them, but take steps to be sure you know who you’re dealing with, is all I’m saying! Obviously, CoinTalk cannot be held responsible for anything that goes awry in third-party transactions like this. You’re on your own. Buyer beware! All that being said, we’ve got a nice community here, and I’m glad we do have these advertising forums for members to do business with each other. Just exercise due caution, particularly with expensive items! You might want to consider a payment option that offers some buyer protection, like regular goods & services PayPal, for example. And the old maxim that states, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” definitely applies here. That’s a classic survival rule for a reason.
