Tips for Buying From Forums?

[Dark Rage]

Hey all, lately, I've been starting to find out more alternatives other than buying from online retailers or ebay, so far I've seen the best deals on forums.

I know that fraud is a big possibly, especially if: the selling member is:
1. New
2. Provides pictures that are not his own

Any tips for a new member like me to know what the procedure is to verify if a member is trustworthy?

I'm sure that even if payment is through paypal, one could still be ripped off (since there's no real proof, how can one dispute their claim with Paypal or their credit card company?)

I suppose a senior member on the boards could also mean a reliable source and references too, but even dummer accounts could be used. Do moderators have access to see whether a member is using multiple accounts or not through their IP addresses?

Thanks guys!

[Super_Megatron]

Always ask for references. We have a feedback subforum here as do other boards.

[jourdo]

When selling stuff it is not a big deal to sell to a newer member (nothing ships until the cash is in hand).

However, when buying, things become a little trickier. Always check their references (eBay, here, other boards). Bottom line, if you are not comfortable... don't deal with them.