To  help avoid scams:

1. Try to deal with people locally so you can meet them in person.

2. Never send any kind of payment to people you have never dealt with before, we found it best to use credit cards that can be reveres if your purchase goes bad.

3. Watch out for fake cashiers checks and money orders, banks will not back you up on these forms of payment.

4. Never give out any personal financial information to strangers.

5. Be ware of people guaranteeing transactions, scammers will guarantee anything.

6. If you think you been approached or been involved with fraud call contact the following

FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
FTC online complaint form (http://www.ftc.gov)
Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov)
Software Piracy (http://www.siia.net/piracy/report.asp)
Phone your local police department non emergency department.