Are Unauthorized Sellers Becoming a Bigger Problem on BlackHatWorld?

[albimorkal]

Hey everyone, I wanted to start a discussion on something that came up recently. A client of mine got scammed while buying backlinks from a seller on BlackHatWorld. The seller claimed to offer links from top-ranked websites at ridiculously low prices—pretty much the cost of a standard post. On top of that, they promised do-follow links and insisted on upfront payments, mostly through crypto. Of course, once the payment was made, the seller disappeared without a trace.

This got me wondering—how common is this? Has anyone else seen an increase in these types of scams? It seems like a lot of these shady sellers aren’t even Jr. VIP members but still manage to get buyers by making big promises.

Another thing I’m curious about Premium Members who don’t have an approved sales thread are even allowed to sell or approach buyers directly. From what I know, selling without an approved thread is against BlackHatWorld’s rules, but how strictly is this enforced? Are scammers just taking advantage of their membership status to appear more trustworthy?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Have you or someone you know dealt with this before? What’s the best way to verify a seller’s legitimacy beyond just checking their membership level? And does reporting them to the mods actually get them removed, or do they just keep coming back under different accounts?

Let’s discuss and help each other stay safe out there.

 

[RK]

A client of mine got scammed while buying backlinks from a seller on BlackHatWorld.

So, by "seller," you mean a Jr. VIP member or a marketplace seller? Right?

It seems like a lot of these shady sellers aren’t even Jr. VIP members but still manage to get buyers by making big promises.

Now you are saying these sellers aren't even Jr.Vip?

I don't understand, if someone is not an authorized seller on BHW, why are people even buying from them?

"That’s like paying toll at a bridge that doesn’t exist."

Another thing I’m curious about Premium Members who don’t have an approved sales thread are even allowed to sell or approach buyers directly. From what I know, selling without an approved thread is against BlackHatWorld’s rules, but how strictly is this enforced?

Premium Members can't have a thread in marketplace but they can respond to WTB/HAF section requests.
Rules for WTB
Rules for HAF

Note: If your client was scammed on BHW (and the deal was initiated on BHW), it's best to raise a dispute with all the available proof.

 

[albimorkal]

So, by "seller," you mean a Jr. VIP member or a marketplace seller? Right?

Seller I mean to say - Who does not have an active sales thread, nor hold the status of Jr. VIP member or Marketplace Seller. (scammer )

Now you are saying these sellers aren't even Jr.Vip?

I don't understand, if someone is not an authorized seller on BHW, why are people even buying from them?

"That’s like paying toll at a bridge that doesn’t exist."

I recently became aware of an issue involving my client, who encountered this situation. I am posting it here to address the matter.

Rules for WTB
Rules for HAF

Note: If your client was scammed on BHW (and the deal was initiated on BHW), it's best to raise a dispute with all the available proof.

I have advised him to raise a dispute regarding the matter.

 

[RK]

Seller I mean to say - Who does not have an active sales thread, nor hold the status of Jr. VIP member or Marketplace Seller. (scammer )

Well in that case, He isn't a Seller.

 

[albimorkal]

Well in that case, He isn't a Seller.

Certainly, every buyer should exercise caution when purchasing services, especially by thoroughly checking the seller's reputation beforehand.

 

[Deleted member 1603965]

There will always be people who will break rules. Nothing can be done about that. Buyers have to be always careful and have certain personal rules while dealing with sellers. And reputation doesn't have a 100% correlation with client satisfaction.

 

[albimorkal]

You're absolutely right; there will always be individuals who disregard rules, and unfortunately, that’s something beyond control. However, it's crucial for buyers to remain vigilant and establish personal guidelines when interacting with sellers. While reputation is an important factor, I agree that it doesn’t guarantee 100% client satisfaction, and it's important to consider other factors like communication, reviews, and past performance.

There will always be people who will break rules. Nothing can be done about that. Buyers have to be always careful and have certain personal rules while dealing with sellers. And reputation doesn't have a 100% correlation with client satisfaction.

 

[NirvanaWolf]

approach buyers directly

They're not allowed to approach buyers directly. In fact none of the upgrades allow you to do that. One can only approach if you've posted your requirement in WTB or HAF sub forums. What happens after that is buyer's responsibility to do their due diligence.
Buyers need to be aware before making a purchase and if any non upgraded members are messaging you, report them to the staff and they'll be taken care of.

 

[PetraAnn]

Now, I know those of you who've responded already know this. I'm putting this as a benefit for those coming along and finding this thread...

First, if you come across ANYONE who is trying to sell or advertise outside of the areas they're allowed to, REPORT IT. Especially if they end up in your DMs thinking we (the BHW team) will never know. And even though I shouldn't have to say it, don't buy from those who aren't authorized to sell.

Second, always try to strike up a conversation with the person you're about to do business with. You can ask them actual questions about what they're selling in their sales thread or you can DM them. This establishes contact and gives you the strong evidence you need to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that the interaction started on BHW. This tends to be the thing that will get a dispute deleted, not being able to prove it started here. Don't take it off site to telegram or where ever immediately! Just don't.

Third, if it's for a lot of money, use an Escrow service. Yes, someone is getting a fee. BUT you're not losing a wheelbarrow full of money either. If you can't afford to pay what I call a "stupid tax" on a potential scam, please FFS use escrow. Even paypal is better than nothing as a customer to be honest.

 

[albimorkal]

They're not allowed to approach buyers directly. In fact none of the upgrades allow you to do that. One can only approach if you've posted your requirement in WTB or HAF sub forums. What happens after that is buyer's responsibility to do their due diligence.
Buyers need to be aware before making a purchase and if any non upgraded members are messaging you, report them to the staff and they'll be taken care of.

Perhaps the buyer posted a request to buy or hire a freelancer without fully understanding the rules. It's possible that, due to a lack of knowledge about the platform's guidelines, they might have approached someone directly, which is against the rules. I’m just assuming this could have happened. If that's the case, it could explain why they lost money in this situation.

Even with members who have upgraded profiles, things can still go wrong. For example, the buyer can approach them based on their 'Hire Freelancer' or 'Want to Buy' listings. However, the buyer should understand that if the seller doesn’t have a thread related to the specific requirement posted by the buyer in the 'Want to Buy' or 'Hire Freelancer' sub-forums, the buyer needs to take further steps to verify the seller’s services or capabilities. Without doing so, there’s a risk that things won't work out as expected, especially after paying significant money.

Now, I know those of you who've responded already know this. I'm putting this as a benefit for those coming along and finding this thread...

First, if you come across ANYONE who is trying to sell or advertise outside of the areas they're allowed to, REPORT IT. Especially if they end up in your DMs thinking we (the BHW team) will never know. And even though I shouldn't have to say it, don't buy from those who aren't authorized to sell.

Second, always try to strike up a conversation with the person you're about to do business with. You can ask them actual questions about what they're selling in their sales thread or you can DM them. This establishes contact and gives you the strong evidence you need to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that the interaction started on BHW. This tends to be the thing that will get a dispute deleted, not being able to prove it started here. Don't take it off site to telegram or where ever immediately! Just don't.

Third, if it's for a lot of money, use an Escrow service. Yes, someone is getting a fee. BUT you're not losing a wheelbarrow full of money either. If you can't afford to pay what I call a "stupid tax" on a potential scam, please FFS use escrow. Even paypal is better than nothing as a customer to be honest.

Thank you for the reminder! I completely agree with the points mentioned. It's crucial for buyers to stay vigilant and make sure the transaction is done within the platform's guidelines. Reporting any unauthorized selling is key to keeping things safe for everyone.

Establishing contact with the seller and using proper channels for communication, like through the sales thread or DMs, is essential to create a clear record of the transaction. And for high-value transactions, using an escrow service is definitely a smart move to protect both parties involved.

Hopefully, this will help others avoid the same issues and make safer, more informed decisions. Thanks again for the valuable advice!

 

[Spicy Chromosomes]

Is this scammer already banned? Open a dispute asap to avoid new victims

 

[albimorkal]

I'm not sure what happened after that, but he did mention some issues later on. He asked for payment after delivery On my Service, but I told him I was fine with working once the link he ordered was delivered. Unfortunately, I didn't proceed further at that point. If there's a chance to open a dispute, I'd definitely recommend doing so to avoid any other potential issues or victims.

Is this scammer already banned? Open a dispute asap to avoid new victims