Last week, I found myself in a financial crunch. Rent was due, and like many crypto users, I decided to sell some USDT through Binance P2P. It's usually a smooth process.

I created the ad. Within seconds, a buyer responded.

His message was urgent:


“I’ve sent the payment. Please release the crypto — I’m in a hurry.”

The profile looked clean — no obvious red flags at first. My instinct was to trust. But before hitting “Release,” I opened my banking app.

No transaction. No alert. Nothing.

Still, the buyer insisted. He even sent me a screenshot of the payment — it looked real.

I hovered over the "Release" button…

Something Didn’t Sit Right

I paused. And thank God I did.

I clicked into the buyer’s profile again, this time with focus:

  • No verified badge

  • Only 6 completed trades

  • Zero positive reviews

  • Last seen 24 hours ago

It hit me. The screenshot was fake. There was no real transaction — just pressure tactics.

Within minutes, the same buyer flipped the script and started accusing me of being a scammer — classic psychological manipulation. But by then, I knew the truth:

I was seconds away from getting scammed.

What Actually Saved Me?

These P2P trading principles saved me from losing everything:

1. Only trade with verified users

Look for the yellow verified badge on Binance P2P profiles. It means Binance has authenticated their identity.

2. Check trade history & feedback

Only proceed with users who have:

  • 95%+ completion rate

  • 100+ successful trades

  • Positive, genuine feedback

3. Never trust screenshots

Always confirm payment directly through your bank. Screenshots can be forged — account balances can’t.

4. Wait, even under pressure

If someone is rushing you, take it as a red flag. Scammers rely on panic to make you act fast. Breathe. Pause. Verify.


Why I’m Sharing This

I was lucky. My crypto — my rent money — was saved because I followed my instincts and remembered the golden rules.

But many others aren’t so lucky.

If you trade on Binance P2P — whether often or occasionally — please take this as a reminder:

Protect your assets like your life depends on it. Because sometimes, it just might.