[the 'stache]

Jake, I get where you're coming from, but I have to respectfully disagree with the conclusion you've drawn here. The price alone was not indicative of fraud. I've seen cards offered a good deal below list in order to expedite the sale. How are we to know the motivation behind the owner's discount? Perhaps they need to create liquidity quickly. Maybe there is an emergency, or a bill has come up that needs to be paid right away. Or, maybe they have two examples of the same card, and they are selling one at a discount in order to create the cash needed to buy another card.

In a situation like this, I would submit a message to the seller that "I am interested in buying the card. What are your terms?" Hopefully, this indication beats everybody else, getting me the first crack at the card. While I'm waiting for the seller to reply, I'm looking for clues as to the card owner's history. If I'm spending even a few hundred bucks to buy a card from somebody I've not dealt with before, or that I don't know as honest by reputation here, I'm going to look at how long they've been a member of Net 54. I'm looking at their post history, looking to see what transactions they've completed. And, if I have questions, I have no problem shooting off a quick private message to a member who has done business with them. I won't ask for specific price information, as I respect that some board members do not wish to divulge this. What I will ask, however, is how well this other member communicated, when the transaction was finalized, how quickly the card was delivered, and how much care was utilized in packing the card. I'm doing all I can to ensure that the seller is legit.

In this case, after my initial indication of interest, I'd have seen their fraudulent attempt to sell the basketball card, and I'd have withdrawn my interest after posting on the sale thread that they were not legit. I'd have then contacted a moderator.