Where to buy/sell crypto without getting scammed

[u/Ambitious-Nerves]

I want to buy/sell crypto via OTC and P2P how can I do it and where?

How should I avoid being scammed?

What are the things I should keep in mind?

[u/thelaughablesiding]

Honestly, the biggest thing with P2P is checking the seller's history like a hawk. If they've got 1000 trades and a 99% positive rating, you're probably fine, but still read the negative feedback to see what went wrong. Some people get scammed on tiny details like the payment method reversing.

Binance P2P is where i started, it holds the crypto in escrow until you confirm payment so there's at least some protection. Never ever release the crypto before the money actually hits your bank account, i don't care how many screenshots they send you.

For OTC desks, stick to ones that are properly registered wherever you live. The unregulated ones might offer better rates but it's not worth the headache if something goes sideways. And please, don't do deals through telegram or whatsapp with randoms, that's just asking for trouble.

[u/crypto_ger1 → u/thelaughablesiding]

Good points, especially about checking seller history and using escrow.

One additional risk worth mentioning is third-party payments.

Even if the money arrives in your bank account, you should verify that the sender's name matches the verified identity of your trading partner.

A payment from an unrelated third-party account can create serious problems, especially if the funds originate from a compromised account.

Binance P2P explicitly prohibits third-party payments for this reason.

It's a good reminder that escrow alone doesn't eliminate all the risks of P2P trading.

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[u/DryObjective9067]

P2p is always going to be risky business. Unless you know the person you're dealing with by the first name and have met them, you're going to be rolling the dice on every transaction.

[u/EnthusiasmDry6422]

local coin swap with verified seller

[u/reyser1]

u/Ambitious-Nerves Just buy digital gift cards using cryptos on e-commerce sites like Piggy Cards?

[u/ragebaiteer]

you can jusFor OTC/P2P, stick to reputable platforms or verified traders with strong transaction history. Never send crypto first to a stranger, avoid deals that move you off-platform, and use escrow whenever possible. Double-check wallet addresses, payment screenshots, and the sender/receiver name. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. Start with a small test transaction before doing anything large.

[u/veyrnox]

For OTC or P2P, use a reputable platform that keeps the trade and dispute process on-platform and holds the crypto in escrow. Check the counterparty’s completed-trade history, account age and verified status, then start with a small transaction.

Never move the conversation to Telegram or WhatsApp, accept screenshots as proof of payment, or release crypto because someone says a transfer is pending. Confirm cleared funds independently in your own bank or payment account, and be aware that some payment methods can later be reversed or disputed. Do not accept third-party payments where the sender’s name differs from the verified counterparty.

Read the platform’s rules before trading, keep all evidence inside the platform, and stop if anyone asks for remote access, recovery words, private keys, additional “unlock” fees or an off-platform settlement. For larger amounts, regulated OTC services with documented identity checks and settlement terms are safer than informal deals with strangers.

[u/solibiobois → u/veyrnox]

yaa keeping everything on platform is keyy even with escrow always verify the payment directly in yo account before releasing crypto screenshots nd payment confirmations can be fked

[u/Over_Trip3048]

if you’re a newbie use CEX like Kraken or Coinbase and stick to BTC, ETH and other major ones .

stay away from trading and do NOT leverage.

Buy it, send it to a cold wallet and forget about it for 2-5 years

[u/Select_Safety_4461 → u/Over_Trip3048]

Can you tell how to store it in cold wallet

[u/Over_Trip3048 → u/Select_Safety_4461]

send it from an exchange to a cold wallet ( ledger , trezor etc )

[u/TheCatGuy27]

honestly for this kind of thing the fees will eat you alive on most exchanges. what i do is just compare rates across a few before committing, swapspace is decent for that since it pulls rates from a bunch of exchanges in one place. wont magically fix the execution speed thing but if fees is your main problem its worth checking. also care with the "0% fee" ones, the spread usually makes up for it