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Newbie's Guide: How to avoid low effort scammers
By apo
If you give an item to someone with nothing in return, expect to lose it.
   
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Created by
apo
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Category: Trading
Languages: English
Class: Demoman, Engineer, Heavy, Medic, Pyro, Scout, Sniper, Soldier, Spy
Posted
Updated
15 Aug, 2018 @ 9:11pm
3 Apr, 2024 @ 9:06pm
2,126 Unique Visitors
14 Current Favorites
Guide Index
Overview
Using rep(.)tf to Verify Identity 
Right click the user's icon in chat, and select "View Profile" 
Right click the user's background and select "Copy Page URL" 
Go to rep(.)tf and paste the link. (Hit search) 
What does this page mean? 
Examples of Good/Bad Rep 
If they send you a link... "This is my Backpack/Trust" 
Comments
Using rep(.)tf to Verify Identity
If someone adds you to trade, likely they will send you a chat message to talk about that.
This guide will help you verify that they are who they say they are, and are not already reported as a scammer.
Right click the user's icon in chat, and select "View Profile"
Right click the user's background and select "Copy Page URL"
Go to rep(.)tf and paste the link. (Hit search)
What does this page mean?
There are plenty of different sites which display their information here.
They are color coded to help you out.

Blue = Nothing bad has been reported [for that one site].
Yellow = Probably nothing, but read the notes to see.
Red = Warning!! Most likely a scammer! Read notes to see details!
Examples of Good/Bad Rep
Examples of Good Rep.tf page:
rep(.)tf/76561198090956917
rep(.)tf/76561198094365132

Example of Bad Rep.tf page:
i.imgur(.)com/1KYBakX.png (Censored due to Steam Policy)
If they send you a link... "This is my Backpack/Trust"
If they send you a link to a backpack or trust page claiming to be a certain user.. IGNORE IT.
You can view this information from their [ACTUAL] rep.tf page.

Compare that to any links you are sent. If they send you to a different profile from the one you looked up, then they are scamming you.


23 Comments
< >
sqworm 24 Jan, 2019 @ 5:08am 
How to not get scammed: don't trade with anyone except friends.
apo  [author] 16 Jan, 2019 @ 1:15pm 
As a general rule, that can help prevent a lot of scams. However, there are some people who have friends only or private inventory's who don't scam.
boss 16 Jan, 2019 @ 9:17am 
shorter version:
just check if their inventory is fucking public
dab me up 25 Aug, 2018 @ 1:09pm 
i think it was an impersanator/no i dont have there profile
apo  [author] 24 Aug, 2018 @ 7:01pm 
Hey RR Destroyer! Are you sure it was the real Troll Pumpkin? I can almost guarantee they were an impersonator. (he has a lot of impersonators)

If you still have access to the profile who added you, try checking their profile via this guide.
dab me up 24 Aug, 2018 @ 6:38pm 
he was a guy who tried to scam me/troll pumkin
apo  [author] 22 Aug, 2018 @ 2:03pm 
Produced a screenshot example for "Bad Rep" that should fit Steam Policy regarding no personally identifiable information to "Name and Shame."
apo  [author] 22 Aug, 2018 @ 12:35pm 
Guide was taken down due to me providing examples of scammers (naming and shaming) It is back up and I will look into replacing that section with something similar.
gleeby deeby 21 Aug, 2018 @ 1:34pm 
Bet he's not even a viable credit to team. He gets yelled at for being a f***ing useless friendly Hoovy.
gleeby deeby 21 Aug, 2018 @ 1:32pm 
"bastered"
"you you"
"awnsers"

I'm calling a troll, or a complete idiot.