I've heard that many beginners in P2P lose money due to a scheme called the triangle, and it’s really clever. I decided to share how it works and how to avoid it.

The concept is simple: a scammer acts as an intermediary between two parties. Here's what actually happens. First, the scammer finds a product being sold cheaply—usually something like an iPhone. They contact the seller and agree on a price. Then, the same scammer looks for a buyer for that product and borrows money, promising to pay back later.

And here’s where you come in. The scammer approaches you as a P2P trader and wants to buy crypto. You give them your payment details. But instead of using their own money, they give your card info to the person who wants to buy the product. The buyer, thinking they’re paying for an iPhone, transfers money to you. You see the funds arrive and send crypto to the scammer. Later, it turns out the product never existed, the victim files a complaint, and you could be frozen or blocked on the platform.

How to protect yourself? First—check the trader’s history. There should be at least a month of activity, preferably several months. The number of completed deals is also important—more deals mean more reliability. Major P2P platforms have filters for these parameters; use them.

Second—always specify in your listing: payment is only accepted from the actual buyer. This immediately filters out suspicious deals.

Third—if the money comes from someone other than the one you agreed with, stop. Ask for a screenshot of their card, transfer a ruble to them with a comment about debt repayment. Scammers usually disappear at this point.

And most importantly—never rush. If something seems strange, it’s better to decline the deal. Your money and reputation are more valuable. If you’ve already fallen into trouble, contact platform support immediately and start an appeal. Document everything—screenshots of conversations, payment details, anything that can help.

The triangle scheme in P2P is a real threat, but if you stay alert and follow these simple rules, nothing will happen to you. Trade safely.