How to avoid trading SCAM?

There's still a ton of posts here explaining newcomer members how to avoid and recognize a SCAM. However, we get more then 20 posts each day asking us to help or inspect the SCAM trade.

We are doing our best to keep scammers away from RealPoor, but a lot of them are trying to find a way how to scam under-aged members or guys with lower IQ. We distinctly REPEAT things which are already written a couple of times. 

Unfortunately, trading an account is not just Post a Trade ...

So here is the strategy I recommend all regular traders.

FOR SELLERS

1. Register with RealPoor and take 2 minutes to READ the Registration & Trading Rules. It's extremely important to read the rules before you continue with trading.
2. Find adequate section to post your WANT TO SELL topic. Posting in wrong sections could result with a suspension and trading post will get deleted.
3. READ all announcements and articles in this section posted by RealPoor staff (administrators and moderators).
4. READ all sticky topics in this section. Topics are sticked because we think they could be useful, so READ IT!
5. Create a NEW TRADE in the chosen section.
6. If you receive a message telling you're not able to create a trade without having enough trading credits, it means you need to BECOME a part of this COMMUNITY, since RealPoor.com is not just a trade center. Read these two articles before you continue to collect credits:
   http://www.realpoor.com/articles/Update_on_Credit_System_rules__Easement_for_newcomers__a19_f0.html
   http://www.realpoor.com/articles/TRADERS_PLEASE_READ__Spamming_for_credits___Don_t_do_it__it_doesn_t_worth__a21_f0.html
7. In case you collected enough credits to post a Trade, please repeat Step 5.
8. Write a descriptive Trade Title, not too long, not to short and without any special characters or eye-catchy stars or dots, since such threads would be deleted. You don't even need to write SELLING or WTS since you're in SELL ITEM SECTION!!! Add some important parts such as which server you use, describe your item in few words, since this would help you to be recognized and searchable in thousand of trading topics on RealPoor. Bagging or adding MUST SEE, or other emphasizing descriptions would only harm your trading, since if noticed by moderators, your trade will end in Trash and you'll get suspended.
9. Define the START PRICE, the REAL MONEY price you would like to start with (usually the lowest price) and then BUY IT NOW price which would automatically close the TRADE.
   INFO FOR BUYERS: Misuse of BUY IT NOW button buy potential buyers would be punished with perma ban, so consider hitting this button before you do that! Under misuse we consider bidding with BIN price without intention to buy, which is considered as SCAM.
10. SELECT END DATE. From date selector, choose the date you want your trade to expire. Expired trades will close automatically. I recommend you not to choose trade duration longer then 2 months. If you want to do a fast trade, then you should choose shorter date range.
11. DESCRIBE your trade. Explain exactly what you are selling and describe with details. DO NOT PUT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION SUCH AS EMAIL, AIM or GAME ACCOUNT INFORMATION.
12. UPLOAD SCREENSHOTS. To describe your characters, items, etc. with more relevant details, you may upload a screenshot. Don't forget to remove all your personal information from screenshot to avoid possible misuse.
13. CHOOSE PAYMENT METHODS. Select methods you are able to use. For example if you have PayPal you should check PayPal, otherwise choose another payment method but not exchange or Game Money/Gold since you the SELL ITEMS section is dedicated for REAL MONEY TRADES.
14. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Use this field to put some additional info, such as specific information about the transfer conditions, etc.
15. PREVIEW TO PUBLISH to see how it would look like. If you need to edit some text parts, then to that, otherwise you wouldn't be able to edit your trade after you publish it.

FOR BUYERS

Repeat the first 7 steps explained in section above.

8. TRADE TITLE, the rules for BUY section are the same, you just need to describe the items you are looking for.

9. YOUR BUDGET. This is a REAL MONEY SECTION, so you should define the amount of your budget, which means how much money are you ready to offer for specific item/account.

10. END DATE. Select the end date when your trade has to expire.

11. DESCRIPTION. Describe what are you looking for.

12. CHOOSE PAYMENT METHOD.

13. PREVIEW & PUBLISH.

IF YOU WANT TO EXCHANGE YOUR ITEM FOR OTHER ITEMS OR GAME MONEY, GOLD, etc.

THEN PLEASE USE EXCHANGE SECTIONS ... NOT SELL OR BUY SINCE THESE SECTIONS ARE DEDICATED FOR REALMONEY TRADES! 

The next step is to read this article:

http://www.realpoor.com/articles/_10_Things_you_should_do_before_trading_a8_f0.html

Some additional tips:

• Log all conversations during the trading process and exchanging information over IMs, which could be used in possible dispute if the trade goes wrong. 
• PM other reputable members to give you advise about the situation.
• Do not PM admins without any valid proof! 
• Do not post your accusation in Hall of Shame without any valid proof!
• For larger amounts of REAL money, ask trustworthy RP members to assist you or to middleman the trade. 
• A TRADE MUST BE PUBLIC. DO NOT TRUST TRADERS WHO ARE BIDDING ONLY VIA PM WITHOUT POSTING A PUBLIC BID.
• Each bidder must post a bid directly in TRADE. Bidding via PM is mostly a SCAM attempt. REPORT such users to admins immediately. 
• Hope this would help you to recognize SCAM and trade fair.

Long live Fair Trade ;)