This will be for free item threads and giveaways:
1. Each giveaway and free item thread has their own rules but need to be flexible
2. If anyone is asking for +rep, require a fee, or require people to join a group it is likely a scam and is also against the rules
3. If anyone does a troll giveaway where the winner gets nothing that person can get a a temp ban.
4. If a user claims to be "poor" or "scammed" report it to a mod like Better|Off|Dead.
5. Donations are okay only if there is evidence if the person is giving out items but claiming you need to donate first are scamming and should be properly reported immediately.

• It's wise to see if the user making the thread has a public inventory. This can be proven when viewing the user's inventory and seeing their items are able to be inspected. If the user's inventory is set to private, dictated by not being able to see items, there is a possibility that there is a scam about to happen.

6. If a thread is going to spark a flame war, DO NOT POST OR AT LEAST TRY TO REDIRECT THE CONVERSATION IF THERE WAS ONE. Just don't not use your head. Remember: Don't touch the poop!

PLEASE NOTE: We do not guarantee that your thread will not get locked. Proceed with caution.

• You're better off using simple and clear words. Y'know, for clarification?
  
• Do not use negative words like "cancerous" or "toxic" when making rules.
  
• Making sure your rules are simple and flexible will keep everyone happy!!! :)

Here are some helpful tips for newer members.

• A good thing to do is build a following first.
  
• I recommend not asking for donations right away as people will get skeptical and more or less likely to report you or your thread for scamming. It is not your fault but if someone is donating they would probably want to make sure that you are legit, such as forum regs.
  So build a following first and then say something like "feel free to donate but you do not have to to get an item"
  
• Apeal to everyone. Chances are, if you're very impatient you may want to consider doing giveaways and not free item threads. Plus monitoring a free item thread is not easy and policing it is even harder and requires a lot of patience due to language barriers and different types of people.
  
• It is not a horrible idea to get a mod's permission as well. Also if you get locked or banned make sure to screenshot everything in case you felt the ban was false or any other reasons.

Remember: It is very unlikely you can unbanned if your thread goes south. Trust your gut: if you think what you're doing or about to do could be wrong, don't do it.

I have been running free item and giveaway threads weekly since the day I started the giftaneers of giving! I may not know everything but I do know a thing or two about things that can lock your thread.
They are:

• First never promote your group directly. Even if you do a funny thing while advertising your giveaway, less people will go to it. (Mind you I learned that the hard way.) Or it can get your thread locked. Even just saying feel free to check out so and so group is not okay or providing any links along with it. .
  
• Any form of social media or streaming service is not allowed on a thread so don't add any links like that.
  
• Pretty much any link that is promoting/advertising something of yours is not okay and can get your thread locked.
  
• Indirect advertisements are OK! For example when I do giveaways I generally will thank my group members and the community for their donations. I am not saying "hey guysh checc out my groop XDDD :) :) :) " but I am stating it exists which will draw more people's attention ;).

There all different type scammers just like people. Some are more obvious and oblivious than others.
Just a disclaimer: If a trade seems not right, do not accept it. There is a reason as to why there is so many steps to ensure your security.
Each part section after trading will talk about different types of scammers.

There are 3 types of beggars. These do not apply to everyone.
(Perhaps more categories or sub-categories will be added soon. Stay tuned!)

These people are the old school kind of beggars. There is nothing big about them except they are just upfront about it their want of items.
They make threads asking for hats and items and have been noted to even friend unsuspecting Steam users and blow up their profile comments and chats asking for their dream unsual hats. This is, as the Spanish say, no bueno.

Now this is a touchy subject and I will be brief about it.
People who claim to have been scammed and beg for items should be taken with a grain of salt.
For multiple reasons. Some things to ask yourself are:
1. Do they have evidence? What about backpack.tf? Always make sure they give you all the details first all you could know is they are some kind of bot or scammer.
2. If they got scammed, why beg on the forums? Why on Steam? Also how do you know they are not lying? (Plus, this is a form of begging and it is frowned upon in the forums.)

Yet another touchy subject again. Yeehaw.
These are people that try to get you to give them something. They may pull the "I am poor and I have blah blah blah and I'm new so gimme :3" card. Generally these people are not seen in forums but rather private messages.
This also goes along with the guilt tripper. If you're starting to feel guilty at all in a trade offer, you are being scammed. This would only apply if you were giving an item.
Guilt trippers may pull the "imma commit suicide" card, the "I'm poor" card, or any other tactic to convince you to give them the item they want.

Message from Editor PlatunumBass™: It's likely the person who wants an item is being genuine and is just asking for an item that they will use. I can't really provide insight on this, but use your best judgement.

I made that word up for this.
A promiser is someone who promises to give you something in the future or pay you back with interest. This is a old school approach and actually works quite efficiently.
More or less likely they will not pay you back. The best thing you can do against them is block or tell them no. If it's your Steam friend just tell them no. If they keep bugging you then tell them you would have to report them for attempted scam.

Also this goes the same if they promise any game or payment In cash or funds. That screams "scam."

As a server owner I can tell you when it comes trading, an administrator (admin) or a moderator (mod) is not needed. If a server owner is threatening you in any way if you don't accept the trade, contact Steam support and/or Valve and report the server since it's against the rules to do that.

People that claim to be mods and admins can scam you. They are probably not mods and admins and if they are, make sure to report them and have screenshots.

I also like to mention a new type of middleman scam where a "Valve employee" has to "check" an item. This is a scam. It's actually completely against the rules for anyone to do this. If this happens to you there are things you can do.

1. Report the person for scamming and/or sharking

2. Block them

3. Check yourself before you Shrek yourself. Ask them to show you history records including bans reports and other complaints. Consider using www.steamrep.com . They've got a major of Steam users tagged and can provide insight on who you interact with. They even have a "Recently banned" list. Also check with another mod.

A lot of people use 3rd party websites like scrap.tf and stn to quickly sell items. However, they can rip people off. Here is a great example:
My strange killstreak Capper is worth 10-12 refined. It's worth 20.5 ref on Steam before tax; with tax it is 13-15 keys or 23.98 on market with tax.
According to backpack.tf , it's worth 9 keys and roughly 20 ref.
I can sell it to scrap.tf or stn for less than 6-7 keys. I am being ripped offa 3-8 keys!
If anything I recommend using scrap.tf and stn for buying items. Not selling.

Another example: the Napalmer reskin of the stock Flamethrower is 3 ref and scrap.tf will give you 1 scrap for it.

These people will make sure they give you the lowest offer possible.
Not going to say names but generally these people target new players or nice people.
Here is an example
Trade offer from person to todoco
attached message
I really really really want this skin. I am offer $0.19 in items for a $0.16 csgo skin.
Items offered
2 mann co supply crates a csgo case and wee booties
each crate is 0.01 so 0.02 total
case is roughly 0.01-0.03 so I say 0.01 total
the booties are not even 1 cent.
so in total for a 19-22 cent skin they offered me .03 or .04 cents

1. Be awake
2. report the person
3. do not name and shame
4. inform friends
5. if it is late at night or you are not in a healthy mental or physical state do not trade.
6. Talk to people if they think a trade is good
7. notify mods
8. stand up against scamming
9. do your research. Also feel free to help the other person that your trading with by showing them how to properly trade.
10. make sure both sides are ok with the offer.

What I am about to say does not apply to everyone
Part 1: Advertisers
Part 2: Trolls
Part 3: Giftaneers
Part 4: mods
Part 5: Spammers
Part 6: Traders
Part 7: Flame war starters
Part 8:

commonly on csgo threads. They get people into gambling skins which is a huge risk.
That is about it.

Or they make threads to advertise their group psa guides ect.