A Steam API scam is a type of online scam that targets users of the Steam gaming platform, often to steal valuable items, gain account access, or impersonate users. These scams typically involve abusing the Steam Web API, a legitimate developer tool provided by Valve, to trick users into trusting malicious third parties. Here's a breakdown of how these scams work:

1. Fake Trade/Market Bots or Websites

Scammers often create fake trading sites (e.g., fake versions of sites like CSGO Lounge, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, etc.) that ask you to log in with Steam.
When you log in, the site phishes your credentials or asks you to generate an API key.
With your API key, scammers can:
Cancel your real trades and replace them with their own.
Impersonate friends or bots in trade windows.
Send malicious trade offers automatically.

✔️ How to stay safe:
Add the user on Steam prior to sending any trades. The trade confirmation will display a 'friend' icon which can act as an extra layer of security.

Ensure the Steam level in the trade confirmation matches with the intended traders steam level, as well as their displayed badge.

Do not send an empty trade offer, it is always handy to add a 3 cent sticker on the intended traders side as most API bots will not have an item. This also then ensures that when confirming the trade, and the 'intended traders' items you are receiving are empty, then it means your account has been compromised. The image below is an example showing the 3 different verification ways.


Your API key can be found here: https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/dev/apikey
if there is an API set up that you don't know about. Please remove it and update your password.

CHECK THE ACCOUNT.
https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/13446696553615660014/680CA5D287D9AF7C9D26832BEF22B97B0BC711D3/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

If you are trading with a friend make sure to check everything there level there icon everything
another way to check if this is happening is this.
https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/12502359465606387769/9ADEFEEB4CF851CBA4DEEABCD8F68754AFDBBBD9/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false


If you made a trade but it got canceled and resent, this is a clear case of an API scam.

this is a steam guide that explains the steam API scam in more detail and i took a lot of the sources from here so please read it.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2926756889

"price checking"

this trading scam that involves fake pricing checks and impersonated bots to steal valuable items. Here's a clear breakdown of how this scam works so you can recognise and avoid it.

first what is this?
They will usually message you on Discord when you make a trade AD on any TF2 Discord server. They will add you and seem interested. They might even jump on a call with you to help you out and come across as friendly. They will ask you to check for the price on websites like https://mannco.store/. This is a scam; it may not seem like it, but it is. They will ask you to deposit your item on the website; sometimes it's to price-check, sometimes it's to buy your item with cash. They are lying to you. They are trying to butter you up so you send the trade, and when you do, like an API scam, your trade will be cancelled and a new one will be sent. The bot will look the same, and everything—the way you can check this is simple. https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/10057496511493969881/27226EA388FDB4E9302EA815ADC6B7C4E46308C7/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

Go check their inventory. No real bot will have their inventory on private or not have a lot of items in their inventory; there should be at least 20 pages of good items in the bot's inventory. If not, you are at risk.

🛑What you should do in this situation is block the Discord user, change your password, and block the "bot"🛑

Sometimes the "bot" will also DM you saying they need to make another trade with you to get the item; this is just the scammer trying their luck and fishing for the rest of your items. If you got to this point, I'm sorry. Just cut your losses and move on. Block them and report all their accounts to Steam and Discord

How the Scam Works: Impersonating Real Traders on Steam

1. Fake Profiles Copying Real Traders

Scammers clone the profiles of well-known or trusted Steam traders:
Same username or a slight variation (e.g., using "l" instead of "I")
Same profile picture, badges, inventory settings, and even friend list names
They use these fake profiles to trick you into thinking you're trading with a trusted person.

https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/15936912701610893469/015B5D826E33FA47554F52DB13F86A9F30096E9B/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/18316440495718553624/E69BF27B58C24762759AA6DBB8E046904EA68ECC/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

2. Setup Scenarios: How They Lure You

💬 "Middleman" Scam:
A scammer claims they're buying/selling items but want a “trusted middleman” to hold the items temporarily.
They give you a link to what looks like a famous trader or moderator, but it’s a fake account.

🔄 "Item Verification" Scam:
You’re told your item might be “duped” or needs “verification”.
They say a Valve admin or well-known trader will inspect your item.
That person is also an impersonator. Once you trade it — it’s gone.

🧍‍♂️ "Friend Impersonation":
A scammer hacks one of your friends and impersonates them to gain your trust.
They might ask you to trade with a “trusted trader” (their alt).

Red Flags
Slight name or URL differences
Steam level is low
Private inventory
Recently created profile
Pushy or rushed behavior

✅ How to Protect Yourself
Always verify the Steam profile:
Use SteamRep: https://steamrep.com/
Compare friend history, badges, and inventory.
Never trust just the nickname or profile picture.

Use trade offers, not direct trades:
Always trade through Steam’s official Trade Offer system with confirmations.
Avoid trading by request in chat.

Never “verify” items:
Valve doesn’t verify items. That’s a made-up scam.
There are no item inspectors or admins who need your stuff.

Don’t trust third-party links:
Many link to fake Steam pages. Check the URL carefully.
Use browser extensions like Steam Enhanced to help spot fakes.

This is simple to explain. So this one won't be long.

Check if the Steam link is spelled correctly before clicking it. Most scammers try to slightly misspell "community" in the link so you click it without thinking check this.

know whats a real steam login and what a fake one looks like.
https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/10698956243196509402/F8CCBB4C63AB4D9796B4FE0E8BF64FD0386B0635/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/14058392268734043548/C81BDE8F19151528913A6B2FED103E01707D3D20/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

if you where sent these links just block them and report them if you clicked them or signed in change your password ASAP

this is for scams that are not very common. but you should still worry about them

1 Fake Middleman Scams
Used in "big" trades like unusual-for-unusual or cash deals.
You’re told to send items to a middleman for "security."
Spoiler: the middleman is a scammer too.
Valve does NOT use or endorse middlemen. Ever.
Protection: Never send items to a third party. Trade only directly via official trade offers.

2 Item Verification Scam
You're told:
“Your item might be glitched or duplicated. A Valve admin must verify it.”
You're then asked to trade your item to this so-called “admin” for checking.
Once you send it, it's gone.
Truth: Valve doesn’t “verify” items. This is 100% fake.

3 Quick-Switch Scam
During manual trading (not trade offers), the scammer swaps your item for a lower-value one at the last second.

Example:
You offer an Unusual.
They accept, then quickly switch their item for a craft hat.
Protection: Always double-check item details before confirming any trade.

4 PayPal / Cash Trading Scams

Scammer offers to buy your TF2 items (usually keys or unusuals) with real money:
“Send item first, then I’ll PayPal you.”
They show you fake screenshots of PayPal or bank transfers.
You send the items — no money arrives.
Protection: Don’t sell items for cash unless you're highly experienced. Use trusted third-party markets like:
Marketplace.tf
Mannco.store

5 Crate/Case Scams
Example: Selling "rare" crates with a chance at expensive Unusuals.
Some claim they contain Unusual hats or "unboxed glitched items."
Others involve Numbered crates (e.g., Crate #40 during the "Crate Depression")
Protection: Know item values. Use sites like:
backpack.tf
marketplace.tf
mannco.store

I hope this was useful for you all, and I hope you all stay safe. If you don't mind, please give this guide a thumbs up to help newer players not fall for these traps. Your items are important and should be safe, so stay safe and be careful <3
https://images.steamusercontent.com/ugc/10417040516378383550/344D207944991BE11595BAED451F322075D8BC56/?imw=256&&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

here are some links about all these scams so can read about them in more detail
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2926756889
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4D07-D139-587C-2080
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=323679408