Suggesting a sticky for scam alerts

Another query from a justifiably suspicious photographer about an overpayment scam appeared today. This topic comes up often enough that it may warrant a sticky in the Business of Photography forum.

OhLook wrote in post #18480076
Another query from a justifiably suspicious photographer about an overpayment scam appeared today. This topic comes up often enough that it may warrant a sticky in the Business of Photography forum.

Basically, I agree with you. Something of this sort may be beneficial. Policing it would require active participation from Pekka/moderators. I'm not sure that will fly. Somethings are obvious scams to some people. Other may believe them legitimate. The one linked above seems obvious.

How do the mods handle this:
I PM'd another member with a full-price offer to purchase an item that member had listed for sale right here on POTN. I got a response asking me to use PayPal Gift (not in ad, or I would have reported it) option 'to help cover shipping expenses'. I replied, "Sorry, I don't buy anything PPG." Never heard from him again. I don't know if that (relatively new) member was trying to scam me or not. It raised my radar, so I backed out of the purchase. It could very well have been a legitimate sale.

If I report it, and it is not a scam, I've disparaged an honest member's reputation. If I buy and get ripped off, I've lost money. Nothing actually transpired. Can I report that? Do I have to be victimized before I report something that seems suspicious to me? Is it up to the honest seller I was too cautious of to defend himself. A sticky wicket, at the very least. I understand why Pekka has a 'Positive Feedback' page and not a negative one. Who would do the policing? How would a wrongly accused participant be made right?

I was thinking only of overpayment scams, not anything that originates on POTN. Other categories might be added, though.

OhLook wrote in post #18480126
I was thinking only of overpayment scams, not anything that originates on POTN. Other categories might be added, though.

Point taken. Separate categories would be one way to help manage.