1). Most popular trade scam: a guy adds you and writes you something like that

Add my friend bro, he cant add you. Here is his profile: .....

Rarity : common

How to avoid
NEVER click on the profile link. No one would ever add you and isntantly write you something like that except scammers.
This link is fake. Look attentively: it always contains a little mistake, like steancommuinity instead of steamcommunity, for example. You can check it by googlink the link, too.
If you go to this page and log in there, you will lose your account, obviously.

How to punish
Report in steam for phishing.

Little note for those who are interested: these scammers usually use accounts they stole before, so once you can be added by someone to whom you knew before and get this spam. It probably means that this account was stolen, the guy to whom it originally belongs is in trouble, too, and you do not have to blame him.




2) In-trade scammers Actually, the most obvious type of scam
You start trading, your partner puts lots of items in trade and then, when you do not pay attention, changes the most expensive of his items by an other one.

Rarity :rare

How to avoid
Just always check what trade you are acepting, and you won't be scammed.

How to punish
Report in steam for trade scam attempt.




3) Imitators
A person adds you, usually being offline at the moment. Then, this guy (or may be girl, who knows) finds out with whom you play in party most often and copies his/her account. Then this scammer goes online (when your friend in reality is offline, of course) and asks you to lend him/her a certain item for one game.

Rarity : uncommon

How to avoid
If your friend suddenly asks you to lend you something, check his/her inventory, hours in game, collection of games, steam level, favourite heros or whatever you know for sure. If your friend, for example, played 1750 hours in dota and the guy who asks you played 3 hours, you can be sure it is a scammer.
Furthermore, you can use "Add a nickname" function (open Friends and click with the right button on one, and you will see a menu that includes this option). You can either use it to tag your friends, or to tag all people who add you.

How to punish
Report in steam for imitating.




4). Scammers from dota2lounge who sell heroic items for incredibly high prices
Probably, the most original type of trade scams. It is usually created by one guy with several accounts or just a group of people. One of them creates a trade where he sells some heroic item that in reality doesnt cost more than one rare. Others post incredibly high offers to make real buyers believe it really costs much. Then, the person who originally created the trade adds you, gives you a link to this trade and says it is his/her offer for one of your items.

Rarity : rare

How to avoid
Be aware of the fact that such scam model exists and just dont trade with these people.

How to punish
Report in steam for trade scam attempt, report in trade on dota2lounge, minus his/her rep, post in trade telling that it is a trade scam. And, ideally, to do it not only with this trader's profile, but also with the profiles of the guys who cooperated with him - they are all scammers just the same.



5) People who say their item(s) cost(s) much proving that by giving you a link to some page with items' prices
In many cases, these web pages contain fake prices.

Rarity : rare

How to avoid
You can easily check it by looking for current price for this item(s) on steam market.

How to punish
In case the price is really fake, report in steam for trade scam attempt.


6) Extracting gems when using steam offer
You get a steam offer (also known as fixed trade, see more in my other guide) that includes an item with any sort of gem - inscribed, ethereal (unusual couriers), etc. You accept it, but in the period after the offer was sent and before you actually accept it your partner uses Artificer's Hammer to extract the gems, so you get items with empty slots. Because of some reason steam doesn't automatically cancel the offer if gems disappear.

Rarity : very rare

How to avoid
Dont trade items with gems via steam offer, use normal direct trade only

How to punish
Report in steam for trade scam attempt


7) Items with changed name and/or description

Rarity : rare

a) Easy case. Scammer uses certain tools to re-write item's name or description. Usually he/she names something "Dragonclaw hook".

How to avoid
It is easy to understand it is false, as the image keeps being the same and it can't be changed, justbthe same as rarity.

b) Hard case
Courier has changed description and name in order to look like an unusual one. Description includes the code of color (f.e. 214 72 166).

How to avoid
All items with changed name/description have a sign "!" in the left top corner of the image. Furthermore, you can check the bottom line of the descriptions, where all the tags are mentioned. If the courier has an effect, there is word "unusual" there.

How to punish
Report in steam for trade scam attempt



8) Scammers that steal real money or buy items for money without paying in reality

Rarity : common

There are lots of scam models here.

How to avoid
Never trade with people to whom you do not trust. Deal with experienced traders that earn money on trades. Of course, you will pay a bit more to them, but it is a reasonable payment for safety.
Take screenshots, record everything. More proof - higher the chance to recover your items in case you get scammed.

How to punish
Report in steam for trade scam attempt. Contact Steam Support and give them as much proof as you can, in case you used Steam Wallet (in case you used other methods of payment, SS won't help you as they forbid such trades). If you used WebMoney, send a report there.


9) Scammers who use trade description in Steam offer in order to deceive you

Rarity : very rare

Your trade partner sends you a Steam offer that includes a short description that tells you will get something after accepting the offer, as if it was written by steam.

How to avoid
Don't trust to this description. In any case, you get items that are displayed in trade window only.

How to punish
Report in steam for trade scam attempt



If you were scammed anyway, I would advice you not to panic and to contact Steam Support. Although they reply with a huge delay, they still can help you.



If you were ever scammed in any other way that I did not mention here, please shortly describe how was it in comments; I will add your case to this article. If you liked this guide, rate it, your opinion is important for me. Thanks for attention and good luck!