Obviously there are many signs that a vendor might be a scammer: little feedback, questionable feedback, few reviews from reliable sources, etc. But my question is more about what process you personally use to examine a new vendor. Are there any markers that definitively assure you of their legitimacy? Immediate warning signs?
I usually look at the market feedback first since it's most convenient. I actually tend to favor vendors that have some (but not much) negative or non-five-star feedback. With some vendors, I notice a lot of the feedback is submitted around the same time, often with very similar comments and ratings, suggesting shilling. After the market, I'll turn to grams and do a PGP search. I like to see results from old markets (Evo, Abraxas), showing the vendor has been around. Finally I'll search on Reddit. If I can't find any relatively recent and credible Reddit review, I usually won't go ahead with the purchase. I have yet to be scammed, but I also often have trouble finding vendors that meet my standards. I feel like maybe I should be a little more lenient, but then again I don't want to lose money when I don't have to.
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