Guys, I've noticed that more and more people in P2P are falling for the same scam. It's called the "triangle," and the scheme works so simply that it's almost scary. Let's figure out exactly how you can be fooled, and most importantly — how to avoid it.

The key point is that the scammer doesn't work alone. There are exactly three people involved in this story, hence the name. The first is the scammer himself, the second is the victim looking for a (device), usually a gadget, and the third is you, the cryptocurrency trader. Here's how it unfolds:

The scammer posts an ad selling, say, an iPhone at a price that seems too good to be true. The victim sees it, bites, and agrees to buy. Then the scammer provides them with your payment details, pretending it's his own card. The victim sends money to you, thinking they're paying for the phone. Meanwhile, you send crypto to the scammer because he supposedly bought from you. In the end: the scammer disappears with the crypto, the victim is left without an iPhone, and you face a police investigation. That’s how the triangle scheme works in reality.

How to protect yourself? First and most importantly — check the profile of the person contacting you. It should be registered at least a month ago and have at least a hundred completed deals in its history. This is a filter available on any reputable P2P exchange, be sure to use it.

Second — specify a clear condition in your ad: payments only from the cardholder, no third parties accepted. This immediately filters out half of potential problems.

If the money still arrives from an unknown person, don’t rush to send crypto. Request proof — ask for a photo of the sender’s card or send them a ruble transfer with a comment about debt repayment. Usually, scammers bail out at this point because it gets more complicated afterward.

Third rule: never transfer money back without coordinating with support. Any step you take must be approved by the platform — this is your protection. If you notice suspicious activity — open a dispute, don’t act at your own risk.

P2P trading is a great way to earn, but you need to stay alert. Work only with verified people, set strict conditions, don’t hesitate to check profiles carefully. And if you do get into trouble — contact support immediately, open an appeal, gather evidence. Stay vigilant, and this triangle scheme won’t catch you!