#1

Enable Two-factor Authentication (2FA)

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their Reddit accounts. Claiming you were hacked does not void you of responsibility.

#2

Read GCTrading's rules by clicking HERE.

#3

Search for your potential trading partner's username on the Universal Scammer List(USL).

This should be done EVERY TIME you trade with another user. It does not matter how many times you have traded in the past. A user's status can change quickly and scammers are known to come back to prior trading partners.

There is NO excuse for not checking the USL. Trading with someone on the USL will lead to a permanent ban.

#4

Perform due diligence on your trading partner.

• Always navigate to a user's Reddit profile and rep profiles yourself. It is best practice to NOT follow links that a user provides.
• Be wary of impersonators with slightly different usernames, as well as messages directly from subreddits. Scammers can create an entire subreddit matching another user's name exactly.
• The mods of GCT will NEVER contact you to conduct a trade or ask for your gift card information.
• r/GCTRep is the ONLY location for feedback here on GCTrading. Scammers are known to: create fake rep subreddits, link to other user's established profiles, and post fake rep directly on their Reddit profile page.
• Check their account age and posting activity. Some red flags would include: an old account with only recent activity, a brand new account with just enough activity to post in the sub, or a large gap in activity.
• Investigate a user's prior trade partners to make sure they are real people. Scammers will create multiple dummy accounts and leave fake feedback with themselves.
• Watch out for new accounts with many recent trades(typically for smaller values). The trades may be legitimate, however, they are only building rep in order to scam.
• Understand that karma does NOT equal trust and it is NOT the same as rep.
• Be careful of users selling something far below market value or offering to buy something well above market value.
• Be careful of the "rush traders". If someone is rushing to complete the trade or provides some excuse as to why you must trade immediately, it is a good idea to take a step back. No one should make you feel uncomfortable when trading with them.
• 99.9% of the time someone asking you to send half of the payment first is attempting to scam you.
• Someone stating they cannot go first because they were recently scammed, is a bummer, if true, however, it is not your problem. That is not a valid reason for someone to go first during a trade.

#5

Perform due diligence on your trading partner's gift cards.

• Verify where they obtained their gift cards from. Do not just take them at their word; demand actual proof.
• If the gift card is physical. It is good practice to ask for a handwritten note beside the card and/or receipt(if available).
• Ask them why they are selling their gift card. A user purchasing gift cards just to sell at a loss, is not normal activity.

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Please trade safely!

Message the moderators to report any suspicious activity.

~ GCT Mod Team