Advice Needed -- How can I avoid getting cheated?

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Posted By: Paul

Someone on ebay with zero feedback has been offering from very nice cards from a particular set. I asked him if he has the one card that I'm looking for (which he hadn't yet posted on ebay), and he said he actually has two. He sent me scans. I've got no doubt the cards in the scan are real. But I'm real reluctant to send $500-$1,000 to someone I do not know. The scans could be stolen. Even if they're not, it could be a scam where the seller keeps my money and the card. I suppose the same risks exist with ebay transactions, but I think all of the cards I've purchased on ebay in this price range and higher have come from people I knew or people who had very high feedback numbers.

Are there any security measures that I can take in this situation? I'd love the card, but the zero feedback and eagerness to sell off ebay are warning signs to me. Any advice would be appreciated.

Unfortunately suspicious on Christmas eve,

Paul