how safe is alphabay really? advice?

I guess I'm fairly new to the markets, but have been enjoying them for the most part.

But I recently made a payment for some music services and it was a good chunk of change. The user has great feedback, over 1500 positive reviews for the item I'm purchasing, but there's been no contact with the seller before or after the sale.

I also don't see any feedback left the last 6 months for him. I sorta thought maybe the guy just disappeared and stopped being active...but his profile still says he's logging in daily.

But no feedback for over 6 months? And no communication? But still listing stuff?

Has anyone seen this sort of behavior?

My funds are still in escrow. I've never had to deal with any of this before, so it's a learning curve for me.

Just thought I'd ask your opinions or where I should go from here. Thanks!


Comments


[6 Points] RIP_Meth_9000:

Dispute this NOW!!!! Let this be a lesson learned :-)


[2 Points] -thuggy:

make sure you dont let the auto-finalize. dispute before the 14 days run out if you havent gotten what you paid for.


[2 Points] weedandsyrup:

On the vendor page you can check to see when they were last online. Also like they said above, dispute this ASAP if your funds don't get returned.


[2 Points] dabAsorrus:

AB is generally as safe as any other market but you need to do your research on the vendor not only on their feedback on AB but other forms like one. I wouldn't store Any coin in your market wallet for an extended period (24+ hours).

That said if you do your research, use approved links to their site and keep BTC in your local wallet until your ready to spend you shouldn't have any issues. Of course a market exit scam is always possible but there is no way of really knowing a head of time. Remember it's always a gamble and the rule of thumb is never spend more $ than you can afford to lose.

I won't say the $ amount but this year alone I have nearly 75 transactions everyone has been successful.

Good luck!

Edit: FEing is not always a no no....there are several upstanding vendors. I never FE with a new vender but I have a few key ones I don't think twice over FEing with but I have built a long standing relationship with them.


[2 Points] CunningCannasseur:

Any market that stores escrow in a wallet they control can steal all that bitcoin at only point in an exit scam. The only way to protect against this is to use a 2-3 multisig wallet, like Hansa,


[1 Points] dankrussian:

Alphabay itself is pretty legit it hasn't had too much downtime in the past year or so, but no one can tell you how long it will be up.

Also Alphabay is known for letting vendors get away with some super shady shit (they make a % commission off every sale) so they allow scammers to operate because they still make money off it.

So make sure you vet every vendor you order from, read recent reviews and look for posts on reddit before making an order, and NEVER FE. You are probably shit out of luck with the money you spent because it was a digital product and most likely FE. Learn your lesson and don't repeat it.


[1 Points] Sober_junkies:

My ex still uses it


[1 Points] None:

Wait I have no idea what everyone is saying here

If it says "processing" then why dispute, the vendor hasn't even shipped yet so it'll bounce back into your account 3 days after the order unless it becomes shipped

It's not technically a sale it's just the funds being held until the order is declined or accepted


[1 Points] None:

Wait I have no idea what everyone is saying here

If it says "processing" then why dispute, the vendor hasn't even shipped yet so it'll bounce back into your account 3 days after the order unless it becomes shipped

It's not technically a sale it's just the funds being held until the order is declined or accepted


[1 Points] zx88crackingforum:

some music services and it was a good chunk of change

What were you buying?


[1 Points] exmachinalibertas:

If it's a vendor you haven't used before, just PM them first, make sure they're still around. You also can get a feel for what they're like depending on how they respond to you. Granted, it's limited data, but there's still something useful to be known if they get back to you within a day and are kind and helpful versus getting back to you a week later and being an ass.

That doesn't have much to do with market security per se, just general due diligence.


[1 Points] testingtestingthis:

It's most likely LE. They arrest the real guy who vends on the account and continues to use the account to get his customers or other people who still contact him. He still has listings, logs on but doesn't answer anything; typical LE tactic. Now they have your name and address. I don't think anything is going to happen, but be wary.